A Hongkong telegram reports a tragic end to a trial fight on the 17th instant of an aircraft recently bought by General Lung Tsi-kuang of Canton. Mr. Chang Wei-ping was the pilot who conducted the trial on the North Drill Ground.
Shortly after 4 p.m., the flying machine rose slowly from the ground, but somehow it failed to clear the boundary wall. The force of the collision threw Mr, Chang out, who had his thigh bones badly hurt in his fall. Towever, he is ed to pull through, as he was conscious and could still speak when picked up.
Tientsin Frenchmen Called Home.
A Tientsin telegram states that. the French citizens resident in Tientsin have all received orders from their Government to start for home to serve at the front not later than the 20th instant.
Books of Confucius and Mencius.
The Ministry of Education ha" again remonstrated with the President in a rigorously-worded me: morial against the inclusion of two of the Four Books, commonly known as the Lunyu and Mengtsze, in the list of subjects forming the regular curriculum for schools, on the ground that these two books neither treat of science nor teach morals exclusively. President Yuan is reported to be displeased with the Min try's obstinacy; but the memorial has not yet called forth a reply.
New Troops for Fukien, Mili-time ago ordered his Aide-de-Camp Tsao Ping-cheng and some other officers to proceed to Tientsin and recruit 252 new men to fill up the vacancies in his Command.
These men were di enlisted and brought to Shanghai on the 15th instant. They embarked on board the C.M.S. Haean, which left this port for Foochow on the 19th instant. The local military commander has written to the Commissioner of Customs asking him to grant these troops a permit to keep their swords and other military accoutrements.
Opium Shops in French Concession.
As already reported, the French Municipal Council has decided to issue no more licences for the prepared opium shops from January 1 this year. There are altogether over 170 shops dealing in prepared opium in the French Settlement. The Secretary has instructed the; Tax Office to call in all the old licences for these shops for cancel-Jation, and to issue new licences to the shops. Meantime, it has also been decided not to permit the opening of any new shop. As to what steps should be taken to decrease the number of shops within,
Text read from the printed page and cleaned; old type leaves the occasional error.