There is considerable excitement in the western capital at the present time over the return of the "braves" who have defeated the unfortunate opposition at Chungking and below. The first to arrive is Brig. General} Lan with his victorious army. The doughty Brigadier is credited with doing the real job in following up Gen. Yang Tze-wei and admnistering to him the cowp de grace that has effectually disposed all his chances for power in the near future and has also put a crimp in the aspirations of Gen. Liu Hsiang. Be that as it may, Gen; Lan, with staff in full wax paint, was accorded a brilliant ovation outside the East Gate last Thursday. Some 20 li, out, a temple was secured and festooned for the occasion with an abundance of bunting and Republican flags; the roads of approach and leaving were hung with flags, lanterns and scrolls for hundreds of yards. Triumphal arches with classic quotations felicitating the General lined the route of march. Fresh troops were out from the city welcome their war-worn comrades, The big brass band of 60 pieces made the function take on the appearance of a real military re. ception, and to the strains of "See the Conquering Hero Comes," the General with staff and senior officers entered the big arena! and—dismounted from their war-chairs and steeds to be loudly acclaimed by the assembled host. Nearly the whole of the Legislative Assembly vas present; representatives from the Governor, the mint, arsenal, banks, Chamber of Commerce, Board of Education and a dozen other leading organizations in the city. The General was reported to have been wounded in the leg during the recent operations, but walked well and made light of his injury.
This week another big reception was given the General in one of our largest theatres. It' cost a mint of money. It is extremely doubtful whether these big affairs are needed at all. when in the nature of the case the military operations have been on a very small scale and not protracted campaigns by any means—less than two months: in duration. The cost of'such entertainment is out of all proportion to the real work accomplished, but then it means great prestige to the small coterie of military leaders. We hear the end! is not yet. Other great military! leaders are on the way home one _by one. The Tsong Si-ling, Liu chin, has announced a fine list of promotions in gratitude to the great military leaders who have achieved this obstacle victory of driving Liu Hsiang and Yang Tze-! wei out of the province.
Text read from the printed page and cleaned; old type leaves the occasional error.