Special Flags which Shipping Dr. Sun's Message to Merchant Must Carry as Passport Volunteers: Munitions to be at Usual Charges Returned at a Price Canton, Aug. 16.
Militarists in Canton are not slow to commercialize their offices whenever there is a chance. The Bureau of River Defence in Canton, in a recent order, states that its guards are unable to distinguish an ordinary vessel from a pirate! boat and that, in order" to jerentiate between them, the Bureau will issue a flag to each of the registered ships plying between Canton and ports inland along the principal rivers of Kuangtung province. But it is necessary for every ship to pay a fee of $50 for the flag. If the 850 larger junks,_ Iaunches, and smaller steamers will all comply with the order of the Bureau, the expected income will not be' inconsiderable. It is doubtful, however, if very many comply.
Shipping business in Kuangtung has been most risky in the last two years, for pirates have had their own' way and bandit troops have not hesitated to confiscate vessels under the pretext of commandeering them for military; transportation service. Up to last China New Year more than 300] vessels of various sizes were taken this way in the previous 12 months by Dr. Sun Yat-sen's mercenary, troops. According to a statement of the Canton Ship Owners' Guild some 42 vessels were taken by Dr. Sun's men since the beginning of this year. These include the str. Hop Wo, plying between Liuchow and Wuchow; the str. Shun Kee, running between: Kongmoon and Sheklung; and the str. Lee On, connecting Fatshan and Kongmoon. Among the 42 vessels taken, 30) were steamers and 12 tow-boats.
For partial relief, and perhaps to get a little protection from the foreign gunboats in Canton waters, more than 200 vessels have gone under foreign registration during the last 12 months Yunnanese Expelled by Volunteers.
When pressed by Merchants: Volunteers from all sides, Dr. Sun'
Yat-sen's Yunnanese mercenaries. had to withdraw from Kaukong' altogether on the night of August 7, after having terrorized the innocent inhabitants there for the lust seven months. Dr. Sun's Yunnanese troops had been' making so much trouble and levying so narly Kinds of taxes that the people of Kaukong were forced a month ago to oust them from the business section of the town, allowing them to be stationed in the outskirts only. Instead of behaving: themselves, however, they caused: more trouble and destroyed several villages, going as far as to demand. 90,000' before they would move out. To save Kaukong, Merchants. Volunteers from many cities along' the West River went to the scene, and this perhaps was responsible for the hurried retreat of the mercenaries.—Reuter's Pacific Ser-view.
Text read from the printed page and cleaned; old type leaves the occasional error.