Evacuated after a Conference Without any Fighting From Our Own Correspondent, Wuchow, July 17.
For the past few days the city of Wuchow has been on the tiptoe of excitement. Reports from down river told of the retreat of the Kuangsi forces and of the different cities that, had fallen into the hands of the Constitutional troops. Morcovhr, the steady stream of returning braves told clearly that Gen. Shan Hung-ying was not having it all his own way. On Tuesday the big guns could be distinctly heard at irregular intervals, and the following morning -ten Kuangtung gunboats in battle array appeared down the river. All was bustle in the city. Stores that had been partly open now closed up tight, and people began to move out of the city with their bag and baggage. Many went to friends living in the country, and others ancamprd on the open hillsides surrounding the city. Some of the pontoons and most of the boats anchored on the city sida of the river, lifted anchor and went to the cther side, while some of the smaller boats rowed upstream to where they would be safe if shooting commenced.
The gunboats, however, did not steam up to the city. One of the lower forts opened fire on them, and peace delegates were selected and sent down to open up negotiations, This continu-"ed throughout the entire day. Meanwhile the troops in city were leaving by land and by boat. It was 8 p.m. when the peace diflegates returned: and brought the message that this morning at nine o'clock the gunboats would advance; that the torts must be vacated and would be occupied by the Cantonese troops; that all of Gen. Shan's men must retire, and only the troops on friendly terms with the invaders would be permitted to remain in the city. At once a military conference was called ard by midnight Shan's men began to leave the city and go northward along the Fu River. This morning at 8.50 the Kuangtung gunboats could be seen advancing and a few minutes before nine the shrieking sirens announced to, all that the feared flotilla had arrived. There was no fighting. The gunboats sim-Plo manocuvred for positions and then dropped anchor in the Fu and West rivers. Later the land forces arrived, and _occupied the forts and the hills surrounding the city, and while there is a feeling of unrest the indications are; that, for a time, at least, there will be peace.
Lonpon, July 30.—Dock work at Hull and Tilbury has been fully Tesumed.—Reuter.
Text read from the printed page and cleaned; old type leaves the occasional error.