When we took out all our expedition arms. which consisted of one Soringfeld, one Enfield, two Savage 'Lil-Power "Sporting rifles, and two revolvers, we discovered that _we had only' 30 rounds of ammunitions to each gun. We pray that Namkha. our faithful assistant, whom we sani to Tachienlu three days ago to fetch ammunition, will soon arrive. Our rifles, however, do not seem to imress the natives as much as our eld glasses, They believe that, the lasses can "foresee and foretell" the coming of the Reds 100 li away!
The defeated soldiers. who are maining here temporarily. present us with one of the greatest problems They are such an unruly gang that their retreat leaves no room for digeintinary measures from the high-for officers. After eating all that they can stuff into their stomachs, they take what they like and decamp. Tu talking to some of there soldiers. we found out that their chiot complaint the lack of food. There have been occasions when they have fought an entire day on an empty stomach. Such a Tack of rations. alas, has sulted in an equal Tack in morate.
One soldier related to us the story: fof his mirseulous escape. from the Communists. He was. believed for two days with 50 other comrades ina Dinckhouse. The Reds advanced reeatediy in spite of their heavy gunfire and finally managed to come close that hand grenades effectively were nised to dislodge them from the Dlockhouse. A hand-to-hand combat ensued in which all. his comrades were killed and he alone escaped.
Armed with Imported Rifles It's said that this band of Reds, under Shu Shiang-chen, are extremely courageous and well disciplined. They are well armed with imported rifles and machine guns. though each is limited to a small supply of ammunltion.
Although the Communists who are [chasing the 24th Army and are heading towards our direction consist of three companies with about 400 men, we are not without preparation for our own safety. Already our servant Lao Yen has gone to find a suitable hide-out for us in the mountains in case the enemy crashes through. He took one porter with him to carry one month's food provision and also spare equipment in case of emergency. Lao Yen knows the country by-heart and we place our fate in his hands should we be put to flight.
Knowing that our supplies and extra equipment are safely ar secretly deposited, we sre sleeping
Text read from the printed page and cleaned; old type leaves the occasional error.