Excitement at Wuchow but Nothing Tangible So Far Prox un Livettow Comnesronpenr Thus far this heading has been a misnomer, The news that the clash had come between the Kuangtung and Kuangsi forces sent a shudder fof excitement throughout the cities as the news filtered inland, and the call to arms was gent whistling over the wires, Presently troops from upriver places. bet late swarmed with braves ili-clad find poorly equipped. Men who had hover seen a gun fired walked round the paths, admiring the Sights much 2s a country farmer vould do on his first visit to. the ely.
AMI Ready for Action thrown. across. the mouth, of the 'A. pontoon bridge was hastily
Small river at Hohow for the hasty movement of the troops and everything pointed to a serious encounter fat no distant date, Samshai was aid to be a predestined battle ground as forces of both armies Mvere concentrating near that port, and everybody strained their cars for the sound of the first shot. Some even left the town and fled to quiet places, But the days passed and no serious fighting took place at Samshui. Then Hsiuhing Awas pointed out to be scene of a deadly fray, but when the ironsides ouched the city they found it deserted of soldiers and took charge without exchanging a shot. At the present time Lukpo has been occupied by the Cantonese forces and launches continue to tow the soldiers upstream without meeting any opposition. And it is quite probable that no opposition will be met with even, at Wuchow, where it seems the Cantonese forces are heading.
Kuangsi forces under cover of darkness have already begun embark on motor boats for points upstream, and it is questionable now if they will make a stand unless the interior of their province is invaded. On what that might mean past history could shed some light, When last the Yuet Kun invaded Kuangsi, troops from li quarters wor called down to resist them, and while brisk fighting taking. plucos along the West River, robber hordes began to operate and so in-¢reased in numbers and daring that inland roads and river routes were hold by them and extortionate demands were made on pedestrians and Inunches for the privilege of travelling. Robbery was constant and kidnapping frequent. One shudders to think of a repetition of those fearful days, and yet present conditions are not at all reassuring, and seem to point to a repetition of the troubles of the past. Indeed it seems to have already begun, since only two days ago at the market town of Talee on the West River, there was a serious clash between the local militia und the Peasant Corps resulting in numerous casualties on both sides and the dislocation of trade for the time being at least. The Peasant's Corps, it is said, wat made up largely by questionable characters who, taking advantage of the unsettled state of the country, made an attack on the market,
Text read from the printed page and cleaned; old type leaves the occasional error.