With the declaration of martial law we have been left in an awful position. Many Russians have been arrested and their fate is unknown, All firearms, horses and carriages have been requisitioned. At the beginning this was done by the authorities in a lawful way, later by the soldiers themselves. ' When asked to show the order they threaten with their guns, they arrest and lead the men away, take away horses, precious articles, money, etc. There is no communication with the Russians living in the western part of Urga (Kouren) where the market and stores are, so we are deprived of provisions. Some have no water left because the horses have been confiscated. If on foot one is certain to be attacked py the soldiers. Woe are informed that plundering in Kouren has begun to-day, In our part of the town (that which is near the Russian Consulate) under the pretext searching, plundering began. From every house something was taken by the Chinese soldiers.
Two such cases happened to-day. The director and employees of the Central Cooperative in Urga were arrested on October 93. They were led away to one of the yamens. To-day, October 29, under the pretext of searching the Central Cooperative office and the houses of the employees, soldiers came in small parties (although only yesterday they had been searching the office and houses of the employees) threatening to shoot. They pillaged and made general disorder, starting with business letters and ending with furniture. They commanded the servants and watchmen to tell them where the money was hidden lurider penalty of death.
Text read from the printed page and cleaned; old type leaves the occasional error.