The erection of substantial street barricades continues, but it i rather surprising that the streets show such a small proportion of soldiers-in uniform,—perhaps one in twenty-five of the men on the streets being in uniform. The shop fronts of many of the less important streets seem to be closed, though in most cases business goes on in diminished volume through one panel of the front or through a side door. Perhaps a fourth of the shops are practically vacated. I noted with inter-, est the other day that the plaster ornaments on the outside of some shops represented steamships, rally way trains, etc. I suppose in the future tanks, aeroplanes, and bombs will be generously shown! Meantime war posters are appearing numerously, as well as huge painted pictures of theoretical and perhaps hypothetical war scenes, many of these constantly surrounded by a crowd, Malaria fife Malaria in all its forms is rife among soldiers as well as the people in general Drugs are increasingly expensive, which also applies to other necessities, and even more to luxuries. Three of the mission hospitals of this region have moved their patients, and headquarters to the concessions, thus retaining thei: depleted staffs and still continuing their good work, though cramped for space in buildings hardly adapted for their use, Rain has been the daily and nightly portion here for the last seven days, but not excessive in quantity.
Six months ago I ventured, perhaps foolishly, to predict that this region would not be occupied till October or later, and now it seems likely to be considerably later, for the invaders are hardly making rapid progress, Yet the populace in general seems to expect that they will really arrive, If they do it will mean sad times for the Wuhan cities
Text read from the printed page and cleaned; old type leaves the occasional error.