1,000,000 Rifles Distributed to the Population Canton, Jan, 13.
The veneral situation. in this city. is enrively favourable, declared the Mayor, Mr, Tsang Yan-fu, who is also Finance Commissioner, Interview granted to a Trans-Oc representative yesterday. He em-Jphasized at the outset of the con Versation that under the conditions of peace as lad down by Japan any attempt at mediation by " third power was useless, 'Admitting that the fall of the city was not Impossible, the Mayor nevertheless predicted that' the defence Anes which have been constructed and reinforced between the city and the coast will present a serious.obstade to the Japanese and perhaps an insurmountable one. Over 1,000,- 000 rifles have also been distributed to the entire population, he said, 80 that should the Japanese succeed, in approaching the city they would find it bristling with arms,
Text read from the printed page and cleaned; old type leaves the occasional error.