Preparing for a Drive on the Capital of the Province Chengtu, Apr. 9.
The relations between the military Jeaders continue to remain a mystery. to the man in the street. Since General Yang Sen returned to the Province the expectation has been that sooner or Inter he would make drive for the capital. His old generals have gathered around him and he ig supposed to have some~ thing in the neighbourhood of 60,000 troops, many of them, however, of somewhat doubtful fighting value. Slowly and systematically the "fang ai" defended position occupied ey the troops of the Kueichow general, Yuen. Tsu-min between Chungking and Wang Hsien, has been taken over until all the main points are now occupied by Yang's men.
An_ expedition into Shensi has been widely advertised and the man occupying north-east Szechuan, General Liu Taen-heo, has been asked to permit Yang's troops to have a safe Passage through his territory. Hix reply takes the form of an. appeal for help to his friends among the generals and several bodies of troops have been moved from the worth-west to his assistance. Tt is anticipated that fighting will break out in this north-east section, Trouble Expected at Lutchow rouble is also threatened at another point, Luchow, a very important city on the Yangtze and the key to one of the main roads leading into Kueichow, is being surrounded by Kueichow troops, who are being rushed from other points to relieve the situation, But what fighting: there may be will be confused for time as it is quite impossible to foresee on whut particular side any one military leader will throw his strength. The theory of every man for himself has now reached its highest development in this provines and no consideration of former friendship or previous assistance carries any weight with the, men in whose hands the destiny of the people of this province rests The ill-disciplined and ale less hordes of soldiers, Dut no leader comes forth to point out the way.
The soldiers of the city are behaving in a most useemly manner, and every day brings a fresh butch havi in popul-of stories of their over-bearing bee us towards the Reuter.
Text read from the printed page and cleaned; old type leaves the occasional error.