The railway below Yencheng on the Tsin-Han line has been cut for some days and for this there fare several rumours. It is said in the first place that the brigand bands from the east of the province wanted to get across the line to the mountain districts of the' west, and cut the line both south and north of their intended crossing place, in order to guard against attack on cither side, This is the official report, The other report, that gains more credence in the thoughts of the local people, is that the troops of Marshal Wu Pei-fu are attacking those of the local Tupan from the south, and that Sinyang-chow is now actually in the hands of the Hupeh men. This cannot be confirmed at the time of writing.
This much is however true. The trains from the south have failed to reach Chengchow since last Sunday, and the trains from the north come only to Chengchow and then return to. Peking. Further there is unwonted nervous-voss in the official circles and a whole crop of rumours that may or may not be actualities in a fow days. are now passing current, Disloyalty Round the Tupan Of these rumours the most venous is that the Tupan cannot trust the men with whom he is surrounded, and that he is himself preparing to take his flight, when things have become too threatening: for him. He seems now to be in Chengchow and had several special trains in readiness to remove his family to the west, from Whence he came. One of the: reasons for this readiness to flee away from Honan is ascribed to the fact that many of his officers fave in secret league with Marshal We and are only waiting for the opportunity to show their true allegiance. That opportunity seems to be rapidly approaching, if all the stories we hear are true.
The country fs in a very:
turbed state.—Brigand bands still roam at large, and the Red spear and Yellow ' spear societies fare recruiting in all districts to @efend themselves from their depredations.
The Red Spear In the Chengchow district, however, the Red spears seem to be taking the place of the brigands, and "making the whole country come in line with their wishes. If the people will not contribute to their funds thay are taken into" custody and beaten, till they sre willing to contribute. At least this has been the unhappy experience of some of the farmers tot 15 li north of the city of Chengchow. In most of these cases the victims have been Christians, and it would seem to be that there the attack is against the Christians.
A few nights ago, early in the evening, seven soldiers entered the railway' station at Chengchow.. and in the presence of a crowd of people that were there at the time, held up the staff and carried away all the funds that were there the time. At Toast thes: Wworthies were dressed in soldier's garb. This is making a Parture in military activities in the local districts,
Text read from the printed page and cleaned; old type leaves the occasional error.