South Kiangsi, Nov. 8.
Communications are very much improved down here. Your latest issue was here within a week, and we find now that mail through' Kiukiang 1s: Quicker than through Canton. For: all these improvements we are truly grateful, since one can come from Nanchang to Kanhsien in two days by bus, which usually took from two to three weeks by boat.
Having cause to use one of these buses some weeks ago, I took special interest in how the engines and mechanical parts were treated, but it makes whatever bit of respect" for engines you possess blush rose red if you just take a look inside the hood of one of these cars.
'The engine only exists in order to haul this great thing to its destination, irrespective of the stress or strain, oF of the many jerks which could' be avoided. Then the passengers only exist for the purpose of paying their fare, without any respect for. their comfort or convenience whatsoever. Many even now know enough avoid the rear seats, as in them you are sure to hit the tp of the bus a few times.
I need not say that could be avoided. The drivers are all young men and seem to know their work well, but they must reach their destination as soon as possible, 30 crossing culverts look out for your head.
The public seem to have gone travel.mad in the south of this province, and each morning there are more passengers than the number ut buses available can. tak "The company need not look for trade, trade {is looking for them, and this all makes necessary to be at the station an hour before the cars leave. The road is very fair, and the scenery gol through the mountains is grand. The road is for some miles made along the middle of the mountains, with mighty peaks above and an immense gully below. Hundreds of men are still working on the worst part of it where it is practically eutting through a stone hill and falls of rock and earth often make the road undt for travel.
But a few more months' work will make things look etter, and the motor road will be complete.
Reds Hemmea In Communists seem to be near their exit from Kiangsi, and some weeks took a notion that they would break through from the east side to who west, thus entering Hunan and gradually' getting into touch with the Szechuen Reds, but they had not reckoned with the Cantonese troops, who were well aware of their inten: ions, and decided that they would not get through. A desperate battle was fought somewhere in the far south, in that part of Kiangsi which goes far down towards Kuangtung. The Cantonese held on to their posi-ons, and as usual the Communists broke with heavy losses, and retreated back towards Anyuen, Sinfeng, etc. During the progress of that barile and while every available men was at the front, another portion of the Reds made a bold bid for passage some miles further north, and taking time by the fore lock went day and night for two or more days, and got past the centre road, and into Tseng Hsien, but the Hunan troops were there ahead of them, and so far they have not been able to enter Hunan. The Central Government were punch tual in sending down many troops, who are centred on Lunchuen, and have so far as possible closed all pos ible exits.
'A big battle is due one of these days, which all would wish to be complete tonese have sent troops against them "quack-out". Can-'The
along the south, and the Government troops are spread very thickly across the centre, so that humanly speaking the Reds are in a trap, but as they have not a few times evaded a direct nish, we would not be surprised if they even now found some way out of their plight. This! resent move has cost both sides very much in men and material, and the expected battle, if it comes off, will also be a very costly affair.
Text read from the printed page and cleaned; old type leaves the occasional error.