Tchiing, Mar. 23.
Authentic information from West China indicates that Generat Yang Sen is now in control of the whole of the Yangtze right up fo Changshou, which is only 150 li from Chungking. The opposing troops have all retreated before him. When Reuter's informant left Chungking General Tan Mow-hsin was still there, but he had all his arrangements made for Teaving and had already collected a considerable sum from the Chamber of. Commerce as "'travelling expenses.""
One of General Yang Sen's strategic moves has been to build a bridge of boats right across the river, about three li above Wanhsien. This closes the river to all floating trade and it is said that junks collect there and, after a few have gathered, they can get the bridge opened at a price, about $100 per junk. Trade is proving increasingly difficult and people who have come down from Chungking state that the river looks absolutely deserted, as the junks are finding it practically im. possible to' keep running. Another difficulty is that all available labour has been comnrandeered ey the military and at Wanhsien it 1s impossible for firms to get coolies to carry their goods down to the river for shipment. One firm has a very large quantity of wood-oil ready for shipment, but no men can be found to handle it.
SHALLOW WATER ACCIDENT, The smaller steamers, however, have found it possible to resume their service between Ichang and Chungking. They have been held up for some time, partly because the river has been very low and partly because the military would not allow them to leave Chungking. The Hsiakiang has now come down and the Tsesui followed next day. Both have now left on the return journey. The river is now rising a little and there is not likely to be further hindrance to the service as far as depth of water is concerned.
The Dahvar struck a rock at the holed. She left Ichang a few days Tungling rapid and has been badly
ago, when there were only.a few inches of water, and had only got as far as Tungling rapid when the accident occurred. She reported to the Hsiakiang, which was on the way down, that she had about six feet of water in her holds. The Hsiakiang rendered all the assistance she could.
The new steamer Kiangnan, which was being run by the Kiangnan Dock Company, until they could find a purchaser for her, has now been sold to the Nisshin Kisen Kaisha, and has already left for Shanghai to be fitted out in accordance with the requirements of the new owners.
Text read from the printed page and cleaned; old type leaves the occasional error.