Peking, June 22.
Reports received in Peking from Harbin state that since the beginning of the month there has been renewed activity on the part of the Hunghutze along the Chinese Eastern Railway. The Chinese soldiery appear to be doing nothing to check the attacks of the Hunghutze and in one instance at least, which occurred at the beginning of the month, appear to have had no desire to interfere.
In the case in question all the cattle belonging to the railway employees at Pogranitchnaya had been driven off by the bandits, and two Russians were also captured. The cattle were held to ransom at $10 per head and the men at $400. A Chinese force was sent.out in pursuit of the raiders and _succeeded in, overtaking them. However, when the troops came up with the Hunghutze, of whom only six were armed, they parleyed with them and finally returned without making any effort either to arrest the raiders or to rescue their victims. The matter was eventually settled by the railwaymen subscribing to pay the ransom demanded.
There have also been a number of outrages on the timber concessions in the district.
A large band on the far side of Imyanpu is demanding a large sum of money from the authorities of the railway, threatening that, if it is not forthcoming, they will burn down a bridge on the Kovalski Concession branch line, and also a large quantity of timber which is lying there. It was arranged that $40,- 000 should be paid to the Chinese Concession Guard to protect the timber concessions but the concessionaires are nervous of the proximity of these troops and, in-Jegraphing for assistance, the concessionaires make a point of—insisting that the troops sent should be paid and have an ample stock of provisions.—Reuter.
Text read from the printed page and cleaned; old type leaves the occasional error.