Hopes that Gen. Chiang Kalshek, would be released on Dec. 21, were blighted when It was learned that Mr. 'T. V. Soong, the chairman of the Bank of China, had returned to the capital accompanied only by Mr. W. H. Donald, British advigerr to: the Generalissimo, and that suspense over the fate of General Chiang wax to be continued. The Nan-King Government has rearmed its Intentions to wipe out the rebels. responsible for General Chiang's detention, and Is refusing. 40. compromise. Rumours persisted that Gen. Chang Hsueh-Tiong may be offered a sum of money suffient to still the dis content among his troops, and himself be allowed to proceed abroad, probably. to France, his fe being guaranteed by General Yen Hsisshan of Shansi. There was no confirmation of these reports that night. Meanwhile hos-Inlties In Shensi are being carried on, with the Government forces Gaily. approaching Sian. Telegraphic communication between Tientsin and Shensi has again been disrupted,—Well-informed Chinese quarters state that "considerable progress has been made asa result of the Sianfu conversations." This information has engendered an atmosphere optimism in the capital.
Text read from the printed page and cleaned; old type leaves the occasional error.