From Our Own Correspondent, Sianfu,, Shensi, July 18.
This month has been a time of much strain and excitement for the people in and around Sianfu.
Ch'en. Shu-fan has been busy making preparations to resist the coming of the new tuchun, Fortunately for this city, Ch'en decided to make Hsing-Ping and not Sian, his base of operations. Troops, however, held the whole Sian plain, and these were billeted on the people, who in turn were robbed mercilessly. Elaborate military preparations were made to the west of Sian, but, on the east, Otily here and_ there were detachments entrenched along the big road. In the city, the troops of the civil governor kept order, and but for a few money shops being looted and one or two shopkeepers being bayonetted, no disturbance occurred there. The prices of foodstuffs ran high and far outstripped anything known during the famine months. Rice, which before the harvest cost 280 cash per sheng, went up to 700 cash per sheng.
On July 6, when about ten miles from Sian, the advanced guard of the Government troops was suddenly and unexpectedly attacked by the local troops, and I believe many casualties resulted, but smog that time Ch'en's army has been steadily driven back and well to the west of Sianfu. On the afternoon of the above date, the Government troops bombarded the city for about 30 minutes, but of course only the civil population suffered, as there was no intention to hold Sian., The following day the Government army took possession and in the afternoon Yen Hsiang-wen. the new tuchun, made an official entry.
Fighting continues in the west; Che'n is hard pressed; an encircle ing movement is proceeding, and already several complete units have surrendered to Feng Vu-hsiang.
Later.
Ch'en Shu-fan has fled to. the southern hills, so that fighting is now virtually at an end.
The new tuchun has stiilva great task before him to pacify and unify the province, as the north has been jong held and ruled by those over
Tol.
the late tuchun had no con-telegram from the Chinese Minister to France reports that maw Chinese labourers have gone to France with the intention of finding work. Upon their arrival, Lovever, they find themselves stranded instead, therefore the Government is requested to sce that no new men are allowed to go to France.
Text read from the printed page and cleaned; old type leaves the occasional error.