The local scaremongers appear to be having a regular beanfeast, and their predictions of coming trouble are without end. Marshal Tuan Chi-jui-is the man who is giving them to most to talk about, for he is said to have given up his Buddhist studies and in his retreat in Tientsin is once more beginning to take a lively interest in politics. Accordingly, the opponents of President Tsao Kun have begun to look upon him as the leader par excellence of their faction, and there is no doubt that they are maneuvring for his appearance in that role. They will not, however, be satisfied with him as a political leader, buri suggest a little venture in the direction of civil war, with Tuan as generalissimo. In one fashion or another they have been in-bulging in such talk of martial exploits for a long time now, ant though rumours do infinite harm to the commerce of the provinees affected they have had one good effect, namely the signing of the East China peace pact. That must have disappointed them, and if they could do so, they would persuade one or other. of the parties to find an excuse for breaking it. Every now and again they bring from some more or Jess out of the way district reports of trench-digging and sand-bagging, and although it is perfectly true that a certain amount of such work has taken place, it does not seem to be worth describing as a serious piece of military defence. The work of these sensationalist politicians is harmful, but fortunately the people are all for peace and it is satisfactory to sec that their strongly expressed views have in one recent instance at least' been productive of good results,
Text read from the printed page and cleaned; old type leaves the occasional error.