Hongkong, Feb. 1.
Sir Cecil Clementi, Kcnt.c., accompanied by Lady Clementi, sailed from Hongkong to-day on Board the O. S. Mantua for Singapore, where he is to assume the post of Governor of the Straits Settlements and High Commissioner of the Federated Malay States—Reuter, who seem to be the bosses now, the patience of the people is strained to the utmost, "We are indebted for the above to the Kindaegs of Dr. James Maxwell Editor of the "China Medical Journal." that in a fortnight some 200 speared from the two bate to which he was attached.- He said that they were "unable to keep up" with the troops on the march, or a small number werd perhaps detailed to capture some band of rebels said to be at a village near by. By the time the pursuing troops reached there these had left, and so following them up, all touch with the main body was ago I talked with one of those "unable to keep up" men, who was begging his way back to Wuha as the easiest means of rejoicing his regiment. He told me that since his battalion passed through here, less than a month ago, about three-tenths of the men had' dropped out, most of them leave ing in small groups and always take ing their ries! It doos not require much imagination to picture "how: hose friends are spending their time.
At last the Changchow rebels m to have been driven over into wssi_province, One would like to know fust what becomes of these after reaching there. During the laet half year three distinct bodies of "'pien-ping" have passed through auth Anhui into Kiang: ing in all several thou sai their pursuing loyal troop: turning once more to Wuhu, Saturday several hundred of these rived at a small walled city. The magistrate promptly went into hiding. The soldiers seized two of the elders of the place and informed them that as they had received no wages for several months they needed money very badly and must have $1,000 before next morning or they would Zoot the city. This was not caty to raise as the place has sums fered several times during the past two years and people are very hard= up. "However, they managed to get $500 in ready money which they handed to the soldiers with apology fies. This they decided te accept and releasing. the two elders they start. ed for Wuhu, where T understand they now are. The people are Wondering just what there is to choose between loyal troops and those who have deserted, But after all it is those higher ep that are to blame for the pre sent disgraceful state of things. 'They are rapidly ruining the people who in their hearts have become thoroughly sick of hie so-called liberty "and freedom which is boasted of. Many whose memory oes back beyond twenty years sigh for the old days, though they' rare ly allow such thoughts to pass their lips.
Text read from the printed page and cleaned; old type leaves the occasional error.