Rice Shortage and Looting From Our Own Correspondent Chinkiang, July 6.
The excitement and fuss made over the recons "All Heaven" festival and procession had only just about subsided when rumours of rice merchants having exported rice to Japan became known. Matters in this direction came to a head last week when many of the populace set to work to loot the larger rice shops. Not content with troubling the corn dealers, the mob set to work and made trouble for a large silk shop in the city: On Friday afternoon the people turned their attentions to a well known doctor residing on the main road between the station and concession. Large crowds gathered in front of his premises. but a telephone message brought along a body of armed police and no damage was done to his pre mises. Now there is a company of soldiers guarding this road and peace at Toast on the surface vails again. The doctor and silk merebane are noted for their good deeds in helping the poor, but excitement evidently leads people to forget this in a time of trouble. On Saturday some corn boats 9 the Grand Canal just outside the South Gate were set upon by a mob, and not a few of the people Were precipitated into the water and drowned.
An arrangement has now been made by the Chamber of Commerce whereby poor people are able to buy one shen' of rice ver day for 100 cash. One depdt for distribution has been opened in the city and one near the horse road,
Text read from the printed page and cleaned; old type leaves the occasional error.