The city of late has taken on the appearance of an armed camp with the 2500 or more police officers, augmented by Admit Wen Shu-teh's regiment of marin and several military detachments, which are encamped in the outskirts. There can be no question, however, that the city is better trolled than ever before, although less display of military force would find favour with the majority.
'The marines parade daily with rifles and bayonets fixed and march Ki along the Bund and other thoroughfares along the _waterfront. 'There can be no doubt that' this "manquvre is not without reason, the general opinion being that the purpose isto overawe any former bandit elements, who may be lurking in the city. Several ex-brigands have been apprehended and banished and the police ate on the look-out for others.
The presence of the ex-bandits, who, incidentally, have been eaus-ing no trouble worth mentioning, is accounted for by the discharge from the army of the Fangtse soldiery. These soldiers are the same bandits who swarmed into the city simultaneously with the return be of the Kiaochou Territory to Chin ese rule in December,.1922. At that time further trouble was avoided by taking them into the army, the bandits being assigned for duty at Fangtse. Recently they were told to parade and were disarmed and paid off. 'They were ordered to return to' their homes With all possible speed. Naturally, many of.them lived in the ncighbourhood of Tsingtao and so came in this direction. As a consequence extra precautions have been taken the police, and the naval and military authorities. Hitherto beyond a few cases of petty thievery there has been no incident of an untoward nature.
The murder of Mr. Kawakami, the cashier of the Japanese Middle School, and the robbery of $4,200 in cash from his person, is attribut-Japanese desperadoes. The police and the Japanese Consular authorities are still looking for the murderer. The murder took place in broad daylight and in sight of at least two persons. 'These have been tunable to give a good description of the assailants, 'The American' Asiatic Squadron is expected to arrive here on May 28 and will remain in Kiaochou Bay for ten days, going from here direct to Chefoo, which is its summer headquarters. The American Colony is pianning entertain Mr..T. L, Ku, former chief actiniane Meat item lat Railway, who was removed from. Bate who apt semana fos eieged ieompetnc acbtne ttt anced Remmpenr sistine, See ree left for Shanghai, the police surveillance over him having been terminated. Mr. Ku had gained considerable popularity, hhere for the firm stand he took. when certain militarist elements at were making demands for money. on the. Kino-Tsi Tine, He suecessfully blocked these attempts to drain the treasury.
'The Managing "Director of the Railway, Mr. Shao Hung-chun, found that Mr. Ku had permitted. the debit balance against the firm in question to reach the amount of '$890,000 and there were rumours that' he had accepted 2 bribe to induce him not to press them for Payment. He was suspended and Placed under virtual arrest, being detained under guard in his own house.
Subsequently he was exonerated, Shao removed him from his ost and appointed a successor, Mr. Ku: was held culpable in not reporting the matter to the Manag ing Director. He declared that he had taken it upon himself to make collection, The refusal of the company to ay the bill hinges on the question of a rebate, The firm insists upon this reduction, which it was sgranted during Japanese control of the railway.—Reuter's Pacific Service,
Text read from the printed page and cleaned; old type leaves the occasional error.