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road from Kueichow to the Yang-taze and Szechuan, i.e., from Kueiyang, through Taunyi, to Chungking. The more westerly roads from Yunnan into Szechuan, L.e., from Tali and Tengyueh, can be left out of account as they lead into the March country. There are thus three points of strategic importance on the Upper Yang-tsze-Suifu, Luchow, and Chungking, being the Szechuan leads of the three main roads from Yunnan and Kueichow. At Suifu was a small garrison, which was reinforced on the outbreak of trouble by 2,000 troops from Chengtu; at Luchow was stationed a General Lin with a division of Szechuan troops of doubtful loyalty; and at Chungking was a garrison of Ch'en Yi's northern troops.
On the outbreak of civil war the Imperial forces at Suifu and Luchow were pushed southwards, the former entering Yunnan and advancing down the Chaotung road for 70 miles or so, and the latter being moved south to Yungning on the Weining road.
The Yunnan rebels advancing from Yunnan-fu by the Tungchuan-Chaotung road met and defeated the Szechuanese Imperialists from Suifu at Laoyatan about the 16th January, advanced and repulsed then again at Ampien about the 18th January, and occupied Suifu, the most important centre on the Yang-taze west of Chungking on the 20th January. It appears probable that General Wn and his Szechuanese at Suitu did not fight seriously, but withdrew or went over to the rebels. Meanwhile, at Yungking the attitude of General Liu and his 8,000 Szechuanese covering Luchow is most uncer- tain; the Chengtu authorities are doubtful about them, and the Yunnan-fu authorities claim to count on their support. Thus, of the two main roads leading from Yunnan to Szechuan, the rebels hold the Tungchuan-Chaotung-Suitu one throughout, and appear likely to be in possession of the Weining-Yungning-Luchow one shortly. General Tsai Ao, Commander-in-chief of the rebel torces, left Yünnan-fu for Weining on the 6th January, from which it seems probable that another rebel force will shortly debouch into Szechuan by this road and join hands with the wavering Szechuanese troops at Yangning and Luchow.
Although the Yunnan rebels by acting promptly have seized Suifu, and possibly the whole of the Upper Yang-tsze as far down as Luchow, the campaign cannot yet be said to have seriously commenced, since the Government expeditionary force of northern troops has not yet had time to reach the scene of action. This expeditionary force consists of the 3rd Hupei Division (from Yochow) with some additional troops, amounting in all to about 10,000 men, under General Ts'ao Kun, followed by the 7th Division (from Peking) with adiitional mixed brigade, also totalling about 10,000 men under General Chang- The 10th Division (from Peking) is also said to be moving as a reserve. these troops have got to be hauled up the Yang-tsze from Ichang in native bouts, there being no steam navigation to speak of at this time of the year. The journey from Ichang to Chungking in a native boat takes at least three weeks. General Tsao Kun's troops (the 3rd Hupei Division) were passing through Ichang during the first half of January, and the main body cannot possibly get to Chungking before the end of the month or early February.
yao.
All
It is possible, therefore, that the Yunnan rebels may meet with further success on the Upper Yang-taze in the near future, since there is nothing to stop them but Szechuan troops, many of whom are a doubtful quantity. But the real test will not come till the Imperialist expeditionary force gets beyond Chungking. Then, according to the official plan, General Ts'ao Kun's 3rd Division, with his rear protected by the following 7th Division, will join hands with General Chen Yi's northern troops and attack Yunnan in earnest. Wholesale defections by the Szechuanese troops to the rebel side before General Ts'ao Kun gets up-river would completely change the whole outlook. The attitude of Kueichow is also of great importance in connection with the campaign, owing to its position on the flank of the expeditionary force rendering possible an attack on Chungking from Kueiyang by the Tsunyi main road.
The Yunnanese are good soldiers with a great reputation in Szechuan. In 1911 a Yünnanese army entered Szechuan by the Suifu route, ostensibly to fight the Imperialists, but in reality to levy contributions on the rich cities of southern Szechuan. Though vastly outnumbered, they did as they liked in the province for months, and only withdrew of their own accord after the declaration of the republic. It remains to be seen whether they will prove a match for the well-equipped northern troops. Similarly the Kueichow army showed its worth, vis-a-vis, the Szechuanese when in occupied Chungking during the interprovincial fighting in the autumn of 1913. The Kueichow troops only withdrew of their own accord after negotiation. During the troubles of 1911, 1912, and 1913 there was always a tendency on the part of the authorities of Yünnan and Kueichow, both poor but warlike provinces, to regard the rich and peaceable Szechuanese as a legitimate field for their freebooting expeditions, and to
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aim at the incorporation of Szechuan with Yunnan and Kueichow to form a federated south-western Chinese State. Szechuan has, in the past, also shown strong separatist tendencies, and for geographical and other reasons has always been in much closer touch with Yunnan and Kueichow on the south than with Hupei, Shensi, and Kansu on the north.
Peking, January 23, 1916.
Enclosure 2 in No. 1.
Joint Despatch signed and scaled by the Military and Civil Governors to Consul-General Gough. (Translation.)
Sir,
THE Republic of China was duly recognised by all the friendly Powers, but the President, Yuan Shih-kai. in violation of the Constitution and his oath, has now taken advantage of the continuance of the European war to plan a rebellion and cast bis eyes upon the Imperial diguity. His Majesty's Minister in Peking bas more than once counselled and warned him, but in utter disregard of all sense of right he ruthlessly pursues his way. Consequently the friendly Powers have abandoned him, and the Chinese people regard him as of no account.
We received our appointments from the Republican Governinent and only recognise, loyalty and duty towards the republic. All the provinces have unitedly declared that they will uphold the republic and continue in that path.
We recall that Great Britain previously recognised the republic, and we feel assured that on this occasion the British Government, as well as yourself, will approve our purpose of safeguarding the republic and upholding the Constitution. It is, accordingly, our duty to formally notify you of our intentions in order to strengthen our good relations with your country.
It is now our duty to inform you, for communication to your Government and the British Minister at Peking, of the course we propose to follow with regard to the treaties, and of our earnest desire for cordial relations with Great Britain :-
1. From the date of the declaration of independence all the treaties negotiated with the Manchu and Republican Governments, as well as the separate conventions regarding Burmah and Tonkin, to continue in force.
2. The lives and property of all foreign officials, merchants, and missionaries residing or travelling within our sphere of influence to be afforded full protection, as provided by treaty. Compensation will be paid by us for any actual losses incurred; but losses incurred through proceeding, in despite of our warning, into the territory of the tribes- men or disturbed districts will not be included in this category.
3. We request you to telegraph' to the Government of Burmah asking that the civil and military officials on the frontier be instructed to co-operate, as before, with the military and civil officials of the Republic of Yunnan for the preservation of order on the frontier.
4. The neutrality in the European war proclaimed by the Republican Government will be fully enforced in our sphere of influence.
5. In future, important affairs will be dealt with directly by us; in other matters we request you to continue to negotiate with the Foreign Affairs Bureau of Yunnan. [Signatures and seals of Tang Chi-yao and Jen K'o-ch'eng,
Military and Civil Governors, respectively.]
Yünnan-fu, December 29, 1915.
Enclosure 3 in No. 1.
Military and Civil Governors of Yunnan to Sir J. Jordan.
(Translation.) Sir,
Fünnan-fu, December 31, 1915. WHEN on the 10th October, 1911, the standard of right was first raised in China, and all the other provinces responded, the reason was that the people of the whole country had long been weary of oppression under an autocrat: they arose with enthusiasm and brought about a political revolution. At that time the friendly Powers
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