Kiangsi reports the following case: The battalion of troops stationed at Hu K'ou under the command of Major Hei Ying-t'ai had a complement of 317 officers and men. A report having reached the acting governor that the full number was not maintained, he sent an agent to make an unexpected inspection of the force and found that it was 53 men. short. Of those, too, who did present themselves ".considerable number wore no uniform, and it is more than probable that they were outsiders engaged merely to put in an. appearance on the occasion, The major's explanation of the deficiency was that some were on leave of absence, and that a body of 20 men was stationed on the opposite side of the river.
The latter statement was proved to be untrue. The major was immediately super-soded and ordered to proceed to the provincial capital for examination. On arrival at his post his successor found that the major had decamped, and that the seal of office, muster-roll, ete., were in charge of subaltern officers. The latter said that he had gone to consult a doctor, but no trace of his whereabouts has been discovered. The acting governor expatiates on the consequences which might have resulted from such reckless desertion of so important a post, and asks that the offender may be permanently dismissed the service. Communications are to be sent to all the provincial authorities requesting their co-opera tion in securing the arrest and punishment of the missing officer.
Text read from the printed page and cleaned; old type leaves the occasional error.