To the Editor of the "Norra-Cuina Datty News."
Sir,—The recent fracas in Hongkew ending in an American sailor's death is a good opportunity to bring to the attention of the public the often repeated warning which Mr. F. J. Schuhl, the U. 8. Commissioner has given. Several months ago he gave warning to the Municipal Police that just such an occurrence was bound to happen sooner or later and he especially mentioned the Victoria Bar in his scathing denunciation. But it would seem that his warning has been in vain and the matter was allowed to die a natural death.
Here is a case where an armed band of Italian sailors came ashore while we were led to believe some time ago that sailors of all nationalities would not be allowed to carry arms ashore.
After the Italians had left the Victoria Bar they proceeded to the Tivoli Bar where they engaged other Americans and another battle took place, again pistols and knives being used by the Italians.
Now this whole sordid affair is caused by these bar rooms which are allowed to exist in the Settlement. Is it not about time that steps were taken to wipe them out completely We started an agitation some time ago against the Chinese authorities for allowing these dens to exist just across the Settlement border in Chapei. They were closed up after the murder which took place at the El Dorado last year and have since then not been opened again. All this time, however, we have allowed other bar-rooms which are just as bad if not worse to exist in the Settlement.
Text read from the printed page and cleaned; old type leaves the occasional error.