From Our Own Correspondent, Fowchow, Sze., Mar. 19.
Since the fighting during the summer of last year, this city has been garrisoned with Kueichow troops under the command of a Lit Chang named Cheo. The forces in this southeastern part of the province have been under the command of Shih Ch'ing-yang. Last autumn, Shih went to Chengtu to the conference of military leaders of the province and has not returned yet. The reports are that Gen. Cheo is arranging to evacuate this place within the next few days and reten by way of Lanchuan to his native province of Kueichow. He says that they have some important affairs on in his native province and that he must return to take a hand in them We are not sure who will be his successor as protector of the people and collector of taxes. Some say. that Gen. Dan of Chungking is going to send some of his force here to stop Gen. Yang on his way up river'; others say that Gen. Cheo is getting out of the way to let Gen. Yang Sen take possession. We hear that Gen. Yang has already taken Wanhsien and that they are fighting two days' journey from that city on the big road to Chengtu, at Liangsan. Gen. Yang Ch'uen-Fang, who has been in command of the forces for the past two years at Chungchow and Fengtu, has turned over and joined Gen. Yang Sen, so that up to this city the river is under the contro] of Gen. Yang.
Business is very dull at present, on account of the uncertainty of conditions. Many of the people have moved into the country to be away from the soldiers. Al] kinds of properties are on the market jor sale and rent in order that the owners may escape having their buildings used for billets. The field crops look very well, but the country is much in need of rain. The official has-put out a proclamation against the killing of any meat until we get rain.
Text read from the printed page and cleaned; old type leaves the occasional error.