According to a Chinese despatch from Hankow, the troops under: General Hsia ' Tao-yin, advancing northward along the Peking-Hankow line, are now besieging Yenchenz approximately eighty Chinese south of Hsuchang, where the head. quarters of General Tang Song-chi's rebels is established.
An encounter between the Govern ment and rebel forces is reported to have taken place on December 21 north of Siping, following which the rebels withdrew into the city of Yencheng.
Official messages from, Canton state that the Government troops: are pursuing the insurgents into Kuangsi with a view to clearing them from the province.
The marine corps of the Canton Naval Squadron is reported to have landed in Kusitungehow on their way to attack Tianghsien, while the remnants of the insurgent general Huang Shao-hsung are said to be fleeing into the hilly Peiliu region, in southeastern Kuangsi. Govern-mont gunboats and aeroplanes are assisting in the operations against the rebels.
'The "Ironsides," whose number is said to have been greatly reducced during their recent reverses, are falling back on Chaoping, on. the 'Western' side of, the Kuei according to one oficial' despateh.—Reuter, 91 7
Text read from the printed page and cleaned; old type leaves the occasional error.