Since her ovn mishap the Indy tu question has heard of one other American who had a similar experi-fence and was forced to pay $50 before he could be released with his car, "As no notice had appeared cither in Chinese or French—explaining what the lady believes to Be'n new regulation the only conclusion to be drawn by those who have had this kind of an experience is that the Ohinese authorities re gard foreign motor ears as excel-Tent prey. It is pointed out that the "cars are allowed to. pass through to Siccawei without question and are caught for purposes of extortion on the way back.
The regulation, however, is not thought to be of very recent standing as the writer remembers having had occasion some months back to fo to Siccawei Observatory in "The chauffeur stopped and. said. he Wai tinable to proceed further as he not. have 'a Chinese licence. The unwary, however, are anxiously awaited, apparently, by the guar-dinns of traffic at the entrance, New Traps One of the more recent of these! eases was explained in detail to a representative of the "North-China Daily News" on July 18. It seems that the foreigner in question was motoring on a holiday afternoon to Lungwha." While not having a Chinese licence he had frequently made the trip before along the Mi hong Road, and by paying $1 at the toll gate he had been asked no ques. tion either going or coming to the Pagoda. Two ladies were in the ear with him at the time of the incident question, He passed across the bridge dividing the French Concession from Chinese territory, and the Chinese policeman on guard waved the car through. About 45 minutes later, the foreigner drove back along the same road and as he approached the same bridge, the same policeman jumped into action, halted the car with rifle fixed, and began explanatfons.at great length which the foreigner was able to gather meant that] he had no licence. By this time a number of Chinese had jumped on the running board and were attempting to lend their assistance in stopping the engine which the foreigner had up to then left running.
Thirty Dollars Can Do The policeman realized meantime that his rifle was not loaded and while still pointing it at the occupants in the car he inserted the cartridges. Thereafter ho insisted thut the foreign man should go to the police station which it was explained was " short distance away, the ear to remain across the bridge in Chinese territory but in the vicinity between Avenue Petain and Route Ghisi_on the French Concession side. 'The police station was situated down the Chinese' road which becomes Avenue Haig. When he arrived there, after leaving the two ladies seated in the car in Chinese territory, the foreigner was asked $60 as a fine. He did not have this amount with him, and he was told that they would keep his car! until the fine was paid. It would not be possible also to remove the car from its point of capture.
The foreigner then started back to the telephone and fortunately found the house of a friend who was able to lend him some of the req money. Two Chinese in civil clothes accompanied tually the police authorities decided to accept $30 in lieu of the original demand, and a long document was produced which the motorist was told would have to be presented at the Foreign Office within a week before the matter would be cleared up entirely.
Text read from the printed page and cleaned; old type leaves the occasional error.