Our experiences from Ichang_ to} Chungking took place in the mide of the evacuation of Yang Sen's arms, which was completely demoralized, and frightened as badly if the devil himself was at their heels, The most of his boats were small oil motors and lacked power to steam the freshet. They not] being able to make progress! irritated the men who thought that the enemy was around the corner. We passed several boats making' headway with difficulty. We passed the Chingloong rapid about noon as we left Ichang. reported having asked the chief engineer if his coal "was sufficient to take us to Wusan, as we were passing Shiangchee, the Inst place we could get any more coal before reaching Wusan. He reported that we had enough to get' us, above that place. We passed several steamers which had Yang Sen's troops aboard, After passing Patung the steamer began to slacken speed and we were making no progress. The engineer] then reported only five or six tons of coal left and we were still over 20 miles from Wusan, having gone 23° miles beyond our only coal supply, The engineer thought he] feould take the boat through the next morning by burning the extra] planking about the boat. The captain thought we could through the gorge, and anchorage wns thought possible in the gorge and the captain and crew were in fear of robbers, after much vacillating the captain decided to return to Shiangehee, against the better judgment of several of us. portion of ouy convoy reached 0. C. installation, not having had single shot fired at us all the way, Dut our good luck was not to continue, as the: last ship in the convoy, the Chilai, was heavily fired upon by Yang Sen's soldiers located on f transport about ten miles below Thong. About 40 shots were fired and one servant, a cook, was killed, shot through the head, and three others slightly wounded, On Thursday morning we visiter Tchang to find out for ourselves the actual conditions. We found the city greatly excited as Yang's army] was evactiating the place, three Chungking boats being held for that purpose. They were already loaded and looked as though they were about to sail. The streets were! crowded with troops who looked to} be mostly boys, who were preparing to leave the city, the larger number; overland.
"Let down" by Chiang We called on Capt,' Piteairn, the only Briton who has through it all, and gained consider. able enlightenment as to what had taken place during the past two months, Tt is said that he had Hankow within his grasp, but owing to the failure of Chiang Kai-shek to come to his assistance, and the lack of ammunition, he was forced to return and retreat, which became very rapid without apparent cause for it The largest fleet American flag ever in anchored off the 8. vessels alf told, three flying the Tehang_was 0, C—12 and nine merchantmen.
Foreign property in Ichang does not seem to have been molested ard the Scottish Mission Hospital open under the charge of a Chinese doctor, but things look rather down at the heel, as we say, as, according to the writer's experience, China has failed to produce any admi to We feared just what did happen, We regehed our coal supply about dark. "Soon after casting our anchor two coal burning transports came in-and took the coal (two coal lighters) that had come for us. Several gambling, opium smoking] officials, transferred over to our boat, as we were not crowded. Every minute we feared that the oil burners would come in, and take] possession of our boat. Just about]
did come in and as soon fas they came to anchor and several men with revolvers earn on board looking for Yang Se transport officer, with blood in th eye, They rushed about the looking for him, but he was in hiding, evidently frightened.
Text read from the printed page and cleaned; old type leaves the occasional error.