Reds or Robbers?—Sharp Engagement with Troops Feokt Oe OWN ComeseontExt canton, Nov. 6:
In the distance the crack of rifle ire can 86 heard above the din of {fhe moving traffic and the cries of Eovlies carrying their burdens to and fro. A battle in miniature is 'Eaging' at the foot of White Cloud Mountain just beyond the confines! of Canton; a battle in miniature, and yet a battle for all we know hat may bring about the overbrow of the government if the troops are defeated, Even as we write a news reporter brings. the sword that the Fourth Precinct Police who have been supporting the county constabulary have been riven back. For two hours the enemy had used every effort to Thrust its way forward to the city, fund the government forces had Mone their utmost to repel the termined Reds, or robbers, whichever they may be.
Falling back, toa more easily Wefended position that they milit fold the enemy at buy, the leaders of the regular troops sent_an_apgeal to the nearest district police Htation for "reinforcements. apcedily as might. be, the police fermoured car, and as many policetmen ay could be got together on euch a. short notice were sent on the double-quick to. the battlefield "At the time of writing this news despateh it is impossible to. lear how the battle started, or who the invaders are. But, as night approaches, the Feports of the rifles can be. heart, and apparently. neither fide has so far made much head-may.
Communists Mostly Broken Up In one way or other, the poser of the Reds in the counties along the eastern. Kuangtung border has een broken, and it is no exag igerition to say that there is)no county in all Kuangtung that delay entirely at the mercy of the communists, Even 90 many of the Rivlicals, seatter-dun their forces "maybe, are at large, and are being hunted the troops and district police it in. the northern counties especially that the work of mop-Ding up the Reds is proceeding 60 satisfactorily. Shoktong, a village the county of Fa Yuen, is one rebel hole, however, that' so far held cut agninal the wie of rong. force of government troops. For several weeks it has been surrounded by an army, but ince it lies on an isle the besiegers, fewest cross a stream before they make an assault on the rebel fortress, That is easier aid than Bone, and the regulars are no near er attaining their object than when hey first arrived on the banks of the stream which encircles Shek-Yang. Last Friday an aeroplane lew over the little island, and drop-yed bombs on the enemy. Not one of them exploded, and the chagrined aviators had to return to their Base at Shiukuan' with nothing to how for their pains.
Within the city of Canton all has been peaceful there last few weeks. he governmental departments. and Bureaux have "been carrying their usual work, but their work has Deen mostly the everyday routine. Yet, there are many randy to believe that with the home-coming Marshal Li and General Chan Ming-shu everything may be turned topsy-tury, With General Li out of the running, the day, the arrival of which General Chan has avaited Bose many months, may have come. And if the scale. then swings the ether wey, those officials who have dictated the policies of the Kuang-ung government during the absence of Marshal Li may be sent heir way. The Provincial Treasuret, the Mayor, and the Commissioneof the Bureau of Internal Affairs, are the three whom the adherents of Shan Ming-shu count on ousting Best of all, Then, gradually, there will frame other changes, until from echer to garret the political house-bus een cleaned out.
Text read from the printed page and cleaned; old type leaves the occasional error.