A correspondent who confined himself to known facts would never contract writer's cramp in describing the incidents of the fast five days. For once the seriousness of the situation has paralyzed gossipmongers and rumours, while plentiful, lack the wildness that makes them always so: ridiculous to an old resident.
General Pei Paoshan certainly knows more than anyone else, but it is perfectly evident that even he has had to do a lot of guessing. Wa discredited the first rumours that Chang Tso-lin's troops had landed in Kiangsu or just over the border and it cannot be so assorted even to-day, but from the continuance of the reports from widely separated sources it is apparent that some force of some kind did land either in this province or in southern Shantung. Whether it comprised four or six boat-loads or whether these boats were steamers or junks or whether the force comprised 3,000 troops cannot be guessed.
The wounded who have beer brought in say that the attackers are Chang's men and that their object is a southern drive. But they sadly miscalculated the fighting qualities of General Pei, who did not wait for the war to be brought to his door, but m@Pit on or even beyond the border. That he recognized the situation as dangerous and uncertain—was shown by the disposition of his troops. He poured his men and artillery across the river for several days, sending some north and some northwest, while one force left for a point duc west. The hsien official of the country bordering Shantung, whatever his vices, certainly has courage, and he launched a force against the invaders and held them till General Pei's men could get up. The last reports are that Pei's forces frightened the enemy into flight, but it is by no means certain that all danger is past.. Pei himself. is taking no chances, for his men are still out and he has commandeered every barrow for miles around and even held. up two steamers that came in from Tsingtao. forces are attacking him from three directions and telegraphic communication with the south of his province is interrupted." "I have repeatedly telegraphed to you (the Peking Government) asking for rations, supplies and reinforcements, but up to the present you have failed to reply. There is only one alternative for me, namely, must work hard to withstand the southern attack ud protect: my province. Whether or not, however, will succeed I cannot - say."—Kuo-Wen News Agency.
Text read from the printed page and cleaned; old type leaves the occasional error.