From Our Own Correspondent, Tsinanfu. March 4.
On Saturday, February 26, the new premises of the Asiatic Petro-lenin Company were officially opened. A reception was held in the morning at which numbers of Chinese merchants and business men called.
On March 1 the manager and staff were at home to members of the foreign community. The occasion was one at which every Briton might indeed feel proud. This magnificent suite of offices marks a fresh stage in. the development of British commercial interests at this ever-growing and important city. The manager, Mr. H. E. G. Mumford, received his guests in a suite of rooms most tastefully furnished and was assisted by the rest of the members of his staff.
The offices are equipped with every modern improvement. The Mess is located on the second floor, with large and roomy bedrooms, private bathrooms and balconies.
The architects of the building are Messrs. Murphy, Dana & Ca., whilst the installation of water, heating and lighting have been done by the Eastern Engineering Works, Tientsin, A correspondent of the "Central China Post" states that the White Wolf band has been re-organized and is now more efficient than before. One town has been sacked, and the mails in Honan held up eight times. In addition to the presence of this band in Honan, troubles are increased through the fact that grain sent for the relief of the famine sufferers has been commandeered by the soldiers. affect China in a very intimate way. Is China willing to be a catspaw when another power has cruelties to enact? It would seem so. Koreans have been arrested at the instance of Japanese officials by Chinese police. Koreans have been imprisoned in Chinese goals. At this moment there is a. Korean. agent of a certain Christian Mission lying in the Chinese gael at Hingking. He has been in prison for months. Why? Are Chinese gaols for use by Japanese officials at will? 5 With regard to the claim for compensation for Japanese lives lost at Hunchun, if China were prepared to make a counter-claim for Chinese lives taken during the Japanese military raids,—thi balance, life against life, would more than probably tura against Japan.
Not China alone, but other nations are involved. It is for them to demand and to insist on simple justice from a nation that wishes to take so important a place in the family of the nations as Japan.
Text read from the printed page and cleaned; old type leaves the occasional error.