According to official announcement famine conditions now prevail in the following districts:—Pichieh, Tating, Chihshui, Kiensi, Tsunyi, Suiyang, Tsingchen, Kweiyang, Tungjen, Sungtao, Fengehuan, Yuping, Szehsien and other parts of the province. An appeal jointly signed by the Commissioner of Finance and the Commissioner of Administrative Affairs has been issued appealing for financial help from the people for the relief of the sufferers in the above-mentioned places, The relief work is being taken up in earnest but in many respects it is "love's labour lost," because the military authorities continue ruthlessly to commandeer animals and men and make it next to impossible to transport rice and other foodstuffs to the needy people.
Although close to Kueiyang there is not quite so much opium as was cultivated last year in the outlying parts, and in other districts every available plot of ground is devoted to poppy growing. In some parts the poppies are in bloom and it will not be long before the whole country is a mass of different coloured flowers.
Brigadier-General Hu has passed, through this city on his way to Chenyuap. According to reports General Ku of Yunnan has wired, and written to Hu in addition to sending a deputation requesting him to return to Yurnan. The Brig-adler-General states that he wired to Marshal Tang for instructions and the reply was given that he had better proceed to Chenyuan and consult with General Li Liehchun. The people in the different centres have been somewhat scared of the soldiers but on the whole they have been orderly and well behaved. When the accommodation in the inns has been overtaxed the soldiers have just gone to private houses, and we expect to hear more from Chenyuan within the next few days as to how the people have been treated by those who should defend them.
Brigadier-General Suen has returned from Pichieh but it is not yet certain whether he will return. or not after the days of mourning for General Wang are ended.
Much money has been spent, and labour expended, in memory of the late General Wang. Huge process sions have paraded the streets and there has been the usual gatherings for, the purpose of reminding the people how much they are indebted to their benefactor. The papers have indulged in extravagances but the people apparently know how much they owe the now lamented leader.
Text read from the printed page and cleaned; old type leaves the occasional error.