That the Szechuen forces missed this golden opportunity to. strike at the Beds in their march across the lain was most unfortunate, and reminds one very much of the march of the Reds across Hunan from Kiangsi to Kweichow.
The Red scouts apparently know their Job and so facilitate rapid and sudden marches. It Is this which makes the missionary. situation so precarious. An overnight march of 4160 1! and you awake next morning to find tie Reds knocking at your front door. And where are you? Exactly!
Bishop Holden, knowing what he does about Red tactics, is not the man to take risks. The Reds determined to cross the Chongba plain and before anyone knew anything about it they had crossed the Kialing and the Fu Rivers and were occupying an impregnable position among the Tibetan foothills. And here they are secure for the time being.
The Reds from Yunnan and Kwel-chow, it is reported, crossed the Yangize below Hwalli on May That they made this move north, making for the wealthy Chienchang Valley, proves conclusively that they are in'close touch with the Reds now occupying the Tibetan foot-hills west fof the EMS, stations. Many in west [China have feared that they would probably make for this rich part of The Chlenchang Valley, stretching] almost from the Tung to the Yangtze, rich in coal, lead, copper, iron and other minerals, and practically supplies the Tibetan border with its food._ Stuffs. Lying to the west of this long valley lies the Tibetan mountains, Including the famous Gong-ga and other gigantic peaks, with no very Inviting aspect for a'Red army. On the east of the valley rises the Lolo mountains, one of the rich opium [growing sections of the province: and Jdown the centre runs the Chienchang Valley, in some places miles wide.
Text read from the printed page and cleaned; old type leaves the occasional error.