Changsha, June 15, At the beginning of the week, it looked as if an encirclement policy might force the Kuangsi troops to retreat westward to Changteh. The Gentral Government forces were at Yochow, Ho Chien had sent a division' towards Liling on the east and the Canton armies were coming up from the south. Now however the rival armies are in strata, like layers in a sandwich cake, and it would -be difficult to prophesy just what the next move will be. Wuchang still stands for the Central Government, but troops at Han Ping on the railway have revolted favour of Chang Fa Kuei; Yochow is said to be held by Hsi Tou-ying, and a number of the Kuangsi troops who went up to Milo have returned to Changsha. Hengchow has been taken by the Cantonese, but more Kuangsi forees have come up northwards and have retaken Yuinchow. ae: danas) pretty Garteln' that, the Kuan will have to move again in the course of the next few days. There are two very grave anxieties; one is that the soldiers will loot before they go. A large part of the million dollars they demanded fon entering the city has not yet been paid and the soldiers are getting unpleasant at the delay. All the' prominent merchants are shadowed day and night by cuards and eny outgoing boats are searched to see that they do not get away The other danger is the Com-week. have come munists, who took Liuyang last
They fled to the hills on hearing of the approach of the bandits and a number have died of exhaustion. The Communists killed and burnt in Liuyang and are said to be advancing on Changsha. If the city is left without troops or if these troops join in the destruction, the results can be imagined. An' unconfirmed report says that Liling has also been taken by Communists.
In the midst of this fear and anxiety, the city suffered from a bad explosion and fire on Tuesday night. A magazine dump in the north part of the city blew up with a terrific explosion. It is said that three hundred soldiers in the barracks were killed and a number of civilians also.. Bombs kept on exploding for four hours and 2 great fire burnt out nearly a block. Large pieces of shrapnel bombs and grenades came down on all th houses within a quarter of -a radius and, as there was a wind, the fire spread and was difficult to Keep under control, The explosion happened at 7 p.m. and was not in hand till about 1 am. Excellent order was kept in the city. Soldiers patrolled all the main thoroughfares, preventing panic and any attempt to loot and a very large number of volunteers worked all night at the fire engines and water carrying organization.
Text read from the printed page and cleaned; old type leaves the occasional error.