Wuchow, July 22. On the morning of the 17th instant a fleet of Kuangtung gunboats arrived and anchored within sight and about a mile from Wuchow when the news spread like wildfire causing almost a panic amongst the citizens both ashore and afloat, crowds of whom were soon rushing in fever excitement, here, there, and everywhere, hoping to find some place of safety for themselves and a few valuables they were nursing. The Stout Memorial Hospital was soon overcrowded, as were the Customs quarters, compound and offices. Others sought shelter in the british Consulate grounds and other foreign buildings. Office clerks, coolies and punkah-pullers all deserted their posts to join the excited mob, whose fright was intensified by the sound of guns, two dozen or so rounds having been fired by the Kuangtung ships only. Thousands watched the sight of the firing and all were more or less eager to see the forts and other strongholds on the near hills above them being blown sky-high. But what a disappointment for the spectators, as each gun was fired, to see that it was nothing but smoke and noise. These blank rounds, however, had the desired effect of carrying the message to the Kuangsi troops to "beat it," and the latter, without firing a single shot, abandoned all forts and places, and, like so many stray sheep leaderless, soon became conspicuous by their absence. It was the tamest retreat possible. On the following morning at 9.30 the Kuangtung fleet got under way and in irregular line steamed into Wuchow, creating all possible noise with their steam whistles and sirens, while the crews, dressed in their best, manned and cheered ship.
The vessels were 13 in number, varying in size from that of a tugboat to that of the Wing-cheung, a cruiser of 1,165 tons displacement. The latter is still at anchor near the Customs quarters, the other boatd having moved up the Fu River and other places, superintending the taking over of likin and other tax-collecting stations, all of which are Dow flying the flag of Kuangtung.
Following close in the rear of their fleet, the Kuangtung forces, in all kinds and sizes of commandeered floating craft, came in their thousands,. some landing locally and occupying those billets and forts recently vacated by the Kuangsi troops, while the greater part of them have gone on into the interior to Nanning and Kueilin.
The. Kuangsi troops did a little looting before their final depart-_
Text read from the printed page and cleaned; old type leaves the occasional error.