(Delayed in transit)
Wutingfu, Sung., Feb. 4.
Floods north of Tsinan prevented missionaries from returning to Wuting after the usual summer vacation, though an attempt was made in September. The disruption of railway trafic from Tientsin made the Tsingtao line the only way of approach, so it was no' small undertaking to get in by so roundabout a way. When I returned from a short visit to England, another effort was decided upon, and two of us got to Tsinan, and set out from there in our car on November 11.
By following the south Hank of ihe Yellow River, we were able to cross at Tsingho, the nearest point to Wuting, 60 li direct south. As at ingtao, we saw many simple trenches prepared, doomed likewise to prove of doubtful if any value.
At Tsingho we were met by rumours that things were happening at Wuting, and some soldiers advised us against going. The [nearer we approached the city, the greater the stream we met of escaping carts and pedestrians, civilian and uniformed, the latter in only small bunches: until, on reaching the south suburb,4 we met the last of the retreating defenders, a handful of armed stragglers.
Text read from the printed page and cleaned; old type leaves the occasional error.