The' Penalty for Attempting to Squeeze too Much From Our Own Cofrespondent, Kanchow, Ki., Apr. 11.
A very regrettable affair in con-
happened in the Hsing knob disnection with opium, growing has trict. It seems that a representative of the official was going around the district collecting the opium tax, and, as reported, was taking a good percentage more than the allowance. This the farmers were unwilling to pay, and at one place he was set upon and killed, two of the escort also being either killed or badly handled. This news was duly reported to the general in charge here, with the result that a company of machine-guns and other troops left for that district a few days ago. That is the place where a few years ago they had to use a considerable number of troops ere they could get the opposition broken, and the people now seem to think that they will have a very tough time of it before they are able to do as they desire.
Troops are being sent south continually and now there must be quite a big army on the border of Kuangtung Province. Exactly what is going on is difficult to ascertain, but a march to Canton is freely talked about, though it will take more than talk to do that. Southern troops have appeared here a few times as escort for some officials who have come to "'borrow'' money. The last time they got $20,000 on "Joan." All the merchants and gentry, as well as the population generally, sincerely trust that we will be left in peace this summer, for one invasion, and all that followed, was enough from the south.
Text read from the printed page and cleaned; old type leaves the occasional error.