CO129-330 - Public Offices - 1905 — Page 333

jopy.

he Liuchow

hsurrection.

Rre

C.O.

4593

8: 13 FEL 05

Extracts from Wuchow Intelligence Report, 12th August

to 31st October, 1904.

Political Summary.

326

I have reported separately on the serious condi-

tion of affairs in the Liuchow and Chingyuan Prefec-

tures of this province, The only important news re-

ceived here since the date of my last Despatch is that

the Viceroy has been ordered by the Throne not to re-

turn to Canton until he has restored order in the dis-

turbed districts, On the whole the situation has im-

proved within the last few weeks though one or two

small rebel successes have been reported, yet the gen-

eral opinion still is that the Viceroy has an alto-

gether hopeless task before him. Offensive opera-

tions against the rebel strongholds are quite out of

the question; not only are they situated in the most

inaccessible regions, but the climate of the locality

is of a most deadly nature. It is believed that the

Viceroy's plan of operations is to draw a cordon round

them and endeavour to cut off their supplies, but to

make the cordon effective will need more troops than

he possesses, At present the efforts of his men are

confined