In view of the alarmingly ineveasinge number of armed robber-fen, kidnapping and blackmailing which have been reported during. the past few months, a most as-rounding fact has just been made public, this being that certain members of the different police forces in' Shanghai have received threatening letters warning thei under severe penalty, to have thing to do with the affairs and not to make any arrests of members the gangs operating.
It appears without doubt that there are very large and extensive gangs at work and that the members are being led by some powerfal mind or minds behind the scones. It is thought that a large number of former soldiers have been enrolled and they are out to ter youze Shanghai.
Further details have come to ight of the daring blackmailing case reported above, From inquiries made at the hea quarters of the Chapei Volunteer Force headquarters on Thursday, Yhe following information was The first letter. from the blackmailers was received about the iddio of last month demanding: that money should be taken to a Place in Naiseh Road, Chapei. No notice was taken of this and a further letter was received by the {intended victim on April 27 demanding a "loan" of $3,000, The latter said, "If you do not accede to our Tequest we will deal with you revolvers and bombs. Be reasonable and arrange to hand over the money to us in front of the Yangchow Guild in the New Tatung Rox Tu order that we will know your mi and that you might recognize our's it will be convenient for exch hold a sheet of red paper in his band.
Text read from the printed page and cleaned; old type leaves the occasional error.