Ichang, July 11.
The opium season is now in full swing and strenuous attempts are being made.to smuggle large quantities through this port. During the quarter ending June 20 the Customs made no fewer than 40 seizures, but in the short time that has passed since that date, the seizures have increased both in number and in quantities of the drug, For instance, seven piculs 70 catties were taken from the Wanhsien, four piculs 70 catties from the Hsin Hsutung, not less than 12 piculs from the Meiren, and 21 trunks, eight baskets and one sackfull, weighing nine piculs, from the Alice Dollar. The opium on the Wanhsien was found in a secret hiding-place in the chainlocker and the seizure on the Alice Dollar was found in a@ passenger cabin, next to the Chief Officer's room. In all 35 piculs have been seized since June 21, so the value is about $150,000.
A very serious situation has arisen for the Northern troops operating in Szechuan. General Yang Sen has been depending on the river for his lines of communication, and these were supplied by the two steamers Ankong and Anning. It will be remembered that the Ankong was attacked by a party near Chung-chow, and it is now learned that the machinery has been removed and that the steamer has been rendered useless. Now the Anning, while proceeding up river, has been wrecked near Fowchow, and she is lying with all her hull under water. The river is rising rapidly, and it is more than likely that she will be swept into deep water and lost. It is a most serious position for the Northern expedition, as General Yang Sen was almost entirely dependent on these steamers for the transport of troops, ammunition and general stores. It will be almost impossible to transport supplies during the high water season, as the junks simply cannot make the journey up river with current running as it does just now.
Text read from the printed page and cleaned; old type leaves the occasional error.