Unfortunately it seems that the commander had no authority to do.aught but carry through his military duty and refused to discuss terms at all. He evidently felt fully competent to carry through to a successful issue, but in the same message Mr. Joyce ported that the brigands had escaped and at that time were some 50 /i northeast of Chow-chia kow.
A further message received in Kaifeng from Mr. Joyce stated that the band was travelling in the direction of Taikang,- and that they were going very rapidly. The troops, evidently the _Shansi men, who are working somewhat loosely under the direction of Gen. Chin, while following up were very inadequately provided for.
The friends of the ladies are getting terribly anxious. and several missionaries in the southeast are trying to get in touch with them. Some native Christians have been permitted to en-
Text read from the printed page and cleaned; old type leaves the occasional error.