Indicative of the mixed character of Gen. Yang's support is a catalogue of the men upon whom he now chiefly relies for the protection of this city and his rear lines against further insurgency or attack. In charge of the city and all the northern troops quartered in the vicinity is Gen. Chiao Jung-hua, of Hupeh, who is Yang's second in command and is design nated as ''Vice-Commander of the Szechuan 'Expcdition,' Gen. Chiao's~ immediate command is composed of Hupeh and Honan troops. The others are: (1) Gen. Yuan Tzu-ming, known as "Commander-in-Chief of the Kueichow Reinforcement ' Brigade," who commands such Kueichow troops as the insurgent, Chou Hsi-cheng, has not taken with him, (2) Gen. Cheng Kow-tung, who commands a body known as the 'Seventh Szechuan Division,' composed of remnants of the old provincial armies, and (3) Gen, Teng Hsi-hao, who until als alliance with Gen. Yang a few weeks ago styled himself "Commander-in-Chief of the Allied Armies of Szechuan," a mixed body of men, estimated at one time to number nearly 40,000, recruited in the western and south-western parts of the province.
For the present, however, Gen. Yang Son is ignoring Chungking and problems in morale and is giving all his attention to preparations for another drive upon Chéngiu from Luchow. It is reported that he will attempt to execute his thrust from Luchow at the same time as Gen. Liu attacks from the north and before further defections can occur. Chengtu is reported to be preparing for a vigorous defence. Steamers coming from the Min River report the gates of the city of Chengtu already closed and that troops are concentrating along the river and the~ East
Text read from the printed page and cleaned; old type leaves the occasional error.