Other correspondents will probably keep you informed about the struggle now going on for the places of power in the province. We cannot get very accurate information here, but it would seen that the provincial chief, Liu I-chin, or "Liu Water Heart," as) he is popularly called, has sought} to retire but, nevertheless, Chengtu has been surrounded and attacked by his opponents. Other generals who are supposed to be partisans of Liu I-chin are following up his attackers, so that the whole is pretty puzzld. If they settle dow to wire-pulling, instead of fighting the province will be fortunate.
As a thrill to enliven the New Year holiday, on the last day of the old year some of Liu I-chin's partisans came here after their defeat in the first encounter with Gen. Teng's forces about Longch'ang. Every man was working overtime, trying to gather in the last few dollars or cash before the end of the year, when along came these soldiers with their demands busy and put a damper on the! for coolies and so the pressgang got) business of the last day. Gen.! Ch'eng at Kiating, who is in charge! of this country, being a wise man! remains neutral in this encounter.! He seems to have reached the height! of his ambition and is content with the revenues he is able to raise' from his preserve. He docy not extort overmuch-and his soldiers} are fairly well behaved, so gentry say that, compared with the' other generals, he is a fine fellow. His men here gave passage to the defeated soldiers and exhorted them' to hasten on to the inevitable! struggle at Chengtu, so that we Over half were asleep from exhaus-: had them for guests only for a day.' spring fever or an open-air sport.
Text read from the printed page and cleaned; old type leaves the occasional error.