Hurtied Exit Before the Russians Marshal Chi had made preparations towards the end of the week to establish a line at Chinkiang. The Chinese Press openly said that he had vent men to bribe! the troops already there to! support him, but -all seems to) have been in vain, As alr announced, the Fengtien Russi battalion was sent to the city; there appears to have been one small outpost affair on Saturday morni and this was enough. The Shanghai-Nanking Railway. authorities were in touch with Chinkiang up to 9 tin, on Saturday, but then it was stated that the station staff had cleared out and almost immediately afterwards all communication was cut, It has since been learned that Chi's troops fled to Tanyang, a station on the way to Shanghai about 20 miles from Chinkiang. There would be probably about six trains available for them if they wished to make the retreat by rail, but at the same time the Fengtien troops at Nanking had at least another six trains to use in transporting troops pursuit of them. Thus, it is extremely improbable that Marshal Chi's men will have time to ce struct any defensive positions at Tanyang, and the report current yesterday morning with reference to Wusih as Chi's selected line of defence is likely to prove correct. Wusih is perhaps 50 miles nearer Shanghai than Tanyang, and if Chi ix to make a defensive line on that side of Soochow he may have time to do ig there but certainly not before, While in many quarters doubts: have been expressed as to the fighting qualities of the Fengtien Russians, the Chinese under Marshal Chi seem to be in no two minds about it, if current report can be trusted.
Text read from the printed page and cleaned; old type leaves the occasional error.