Our Suchien (north Kiangsu) correspondent writes The country is in a terrible condition with the "bandits, There was a Roman Catholic' priest coming into Suchien from a town about 70 li above us and they seized and held him for ransom. They demanded $300,000 and the old gentleman, rumour has it, said they could kill him first but they would not get a cash. The bandits sent in word to the military authorities that they need not come and fight and that they would treat the priest well till the ransom money was forthcoming! After a week's talk the bandits held two of the priest's party as hostages and allowed the foreigner to go into Suchien and see our military leader. The matter seems to have been arranged.
The Suchien Hospital is full of wounded. The doctor who is still up there and his assistants are tired out with day and night work. The bullets are now of steel and do less damage than the old fashioned Tead so they are somehow being supplied with ammunition.
Text read from the printed page and cleaned; old type leaves the occasional error.