For more than ten days rumour fand report have persisted that Ya~ chow was surrounded by Communists and word came that the city was in imminent danger. As long as the waterway down the Ya River to Kiating was open, raftloads' of wen thy people and refugees oft the city. We now hear that there are only the men of the 24th army in Yachow, the others having retired.
Should the Reds capture Yachow this will be the Mrst point gained in their adventure to establish a Soviet Republic in the wilds of West China. Of a more serious nature was the sudden capture of Gada between Tachienlu and Dawe by a company of Reds from Drumeh. The Lolan Lama left the place unoccupied with a large and Important lamasery_in the centre of a wealthy plain. The Reds wheter from practice, adventure, or plunder, suddenly appeared Gada and hoisted the Red flag for a day or so and then retired to Drumeh (Maoniu). Gada lies almost immediately behind Tachienlu and on the main north road to Lkass. What did this move signify and what will bbe its significance In any enveloping movement in days {o come. Tachien's ig now in no enviable position, To the West, North and East, the country very largely is held by Red armies under Chu and Hsu.
Gen. Lee Bao-been continues, how-jover, to be the hero of the" hour. [Like Oliver Cromwell he carefully acquired the art of keeping his own counsel. Gen. Lee ix now pushing ahead with the alr Meld and in another two or three weeks this should 'Be an accomplished faci. Six of Tachienl's foreign community examined, the field and came to the conclusion was not Long enough to land a plane. 'The airmen however are the best judge of that point, Government troops are' well and regularly pald and this at least removes a certain amount of dissatisfaction. The men also are well fed and clad and Gen. Lee takes a per sonal interest in their welfare.
Volunteer Organization Some weeks ago this fine Hunanese soldier started a local volunteer corps. enrolling a young man from each of the homes and" shops in the city. In a very short time these fellows were not only proud of themselves but proud of the uniform they wore. The daylight call to exercise did! them a lot of good and some of, them are now developing Into hardy, sturdy and self-respecting young men, Afler about six weeks intensive training they are being placed in the stone fortresses surrounding the city where they old the fort at night relieving the Government troops who continue operations at the alt= field during the day, We are becom-Ing quite proud of our Tachienls young men who are responding 30 manfully to tke confidence reposed in them by Gen Lee.
It Is cold work in these fortresses away up on the high Tibetan mountains, but the young men have 2 sporting spirit and greatly enjoy the fun and experience. Among the lads are many of our old school boys wko fare not slow to salute us as we pass. Should the present serious situation pass peacefully, Gen. Lee will leave fan asset on the frontier that has to) be reckoned with.
Intermittent fighting Is taking place: (December 4) between the Commun: {ists and tke Government troops on the Ma-ngan-shan, "Horse-saddle-mountain" just above the bridge at Luding and only forty miles from Tachientu (one day's march as the Reds travel). Fighting has been go: ing on more or less for one week and Gen. Lee issued a notice to th effect that the Communists had sulfered a defeat and the loss of between two and throo hundred men. Red captives were brought in to Ta-chien lu during the past few days. Yesterday about thirty were brought, into the city.
'A Leavy engagement took place at Chit cha-shu, " "The-nine-fork-tree."
The Reds sti maintain their long Hine from Shuching throug: Danba {o Baohsing, and from this long line makes sorties on to the main road from Yachow to Tachientu.
Text read from the printed page and cleaned; old type leaves the occasional error.