From Our Own Correspondent, Nanking, May 23.
Contrary to what was generally expected while fighting was recently in progress in the north namely, that Nanking would be drawn into the trouble, there has not been the deast sign of anything-of the kind here. Ofcourse, there were the usual fevered rumours that the Chekiang Tuchun was going to advance on Nanking. About the time this rumour was going the rounds, there was a breakdown on the Shanghai-Nanking Railway, which highly imaginative minds attributed to being part of the programme of hostilities.
Among a certain class of the wealthier and more influential Chinese, i was anticipated that General Wu Pei-fu could not possibly hope to. withstand the Fengtien Army, and that as a result of his defeat, Nanking would certainly be involved in the strife, owing to General Chi, our Military. Governor, having sided with Wu Pei-fu.
Numerous railway waggons were said to have been kept in readiness on the T. P. R. sidings at Pukow for. the despatch of Nanking troops to Wu Pei-fu's assistance. The only movement of troops noticeable was when the soldiers were route-marching to various points in the city or were engaged in the usual daily drilling on the parade grounds, or in target practice on the rifle ranges Naturally, the local Chinese newspapers gave as much colour as they possibly could to happenings in the north and the possibility of the trouble spreading to Nanking. The "North-China Daily News" and the "China Rress' were eagerly bought wp by residents and the telegrams of the fighting eagerly scanned daily. But nevertheless Nanking has been, and is still quite tranquil and business is "as usual."
Text read from the printed page and cleaned; old type leaves the occasional error.