"One woe is past and behold another cometh quickly." Hardly had the last soldier of the first Division left the city when the word came that the vanguard of the "Self-Government Army" under Commander Han was already on its way to Liuchow and would arrive the next day. The added news that looting was a favourite pastime of the oncoming troops. caused the Chamber of Commerce, the Self-Government Association and members of the Women's and Children's Refuges hastily to call a meeting and select representatives to go out and meet the troops and ask them to come peacefully. The representatives met the advance guard about 10 miles from the city and they were indeed a noble army. Uniformed men were scarce indeed; clothes of all colours and makes were in evidence, from the city suit to the peasant garb. Longhaired men, wild and warlike, men whose only hat was a time-stained towel tied turban-like around the head; others with hats that indicated the districts from which they had come Guns long land short, old and new, some of the latest pattern, and others that looked as if they had been in the Ark.
Here and there a woman warrior rode astride a bony steed. while others, perhaps but recently kidnapped. walked between the armed men. It was indeed an Oriental Cox's army and the old_ familiar verse, a parody on "The Light Brigade," was most applicable:—
"Chickens to the right of them, Chickens to the left of them, But no chickens behind them Why, no one wondered.'
Loot that had been secured a few hours before at places through
Text read from the printed page and cleaned; old type leaves the occasional error.