Again: Citizens Suffer Fnom. Oux Own Comesrontirt Cheng-yang-kuan; An., Dee. 5:
Om October 29: we set out-for-a month's visit to the town: of K'an-Tuan-tib, 45 miles to the north
were not opened: until: after wand: "Taat morning the city gates o'clock, but we left, nevertheless; not being" apprehensive of danger.
Along the road we found. the wheat up and looking fine, there Thaving been rain enough to. permit of sowing: and encourage growing. Last summer was one of very partial rains, K'an tuan this. was one of the favoured. localities, for all its crops, including' those gathered in the autumn, were particularly good.
We soon bogan to hear ominous! ramours from Chenyangkuan,, but not until our return a month later did we get the real. facts. When we left, w strong band of so-called bandits: was in possession. of the city. They were really an anti-Chiang Kai-shek faction, bent on securing. the city. with its customs revenues for their faction, They treated the people with remarkable consideration, and robbed and: oppressed but little.
In a short time loyal: soldiers arrived to retake the city. In the fighting ensued: neither soldiers nor bandits seem to have suffered, but there were many casualties in and wounded among the citizens. About 46, most of them wounded, are reported. One bullet passed Unrough the bodies two persons.
The soldiers, on gaining possession of the city, appear to have been more oppressive in their demands probably not as much so as. the: latter would have been had they been left in undisturbed possession.
The bandits did not molest the Mission premises, but a company of soldiers come looking for quarters. They demanded the keys "of the house, and these not being produced, tried to force open a door, but were prevented by an officer who came: on the scene and led them away. Since then others have come looking for quarters for officers with wives, but; though insistent, they have not insisted,
Text read from the printed page and cleaned; old type leaves the occasional error.