Notorious Band Overwhelmed By General Lai after a Desperate and Thrilling Struggle From Our Owa Correspondent, Chengtu, Sze., Feb. 9.
The New Year has been celebrated here in stirring style by a notable round-up of local bandits. While bandits have roamed at will pretty much over the Province, no place has suffered worse than the vicinity of the Capital, Capture of the mails and man-handling of the faithful carriers within 20 or 30 li of the capital and even closer, has been the order of the day. It has been hard to say just which band of revi soldiery is responsible, but suspicion has rested for a long time on a certain Colonel Chang Sheng Ting and some of his henchmen. Still, Chang would come into the city at times and abide like a peaceable and law-abiding zens, and it was hard to make out a certain case against him.
However, when his old chief, General Lai Hsin Weh, returned about two months ago, many complaints found their way to the General, who realized that it was dangerous to his good reputation to have a man like Colonel! Chang trading on his name, and forthwith narrowly watched' his career. Evidence was not wanting to show that his suspicions were correct. He gave Colonel Chang plenty of warning, and when that warning was unheeded took prompt punitive measures. As soon as the Chinese This! New Year festivities were over, General Lai Hsin Weh gathered his own small force, with a contingent sent by Liu Vu Chin, and proceeded with two big guns, to Si Feng Hsien, less than two days from here, where the bandit division was pretty strongly entrenched. Colonel Chang had the best of it for numbers, but General Lai was in better shape with his two guns and the} splendid morale of his troops, who were out to wipe away disgrace from their commander's escutcheson. General Lai sent out scouts and outposts to prevent the retreat of Chang and his men should defeat overtake them. Then he warned the townspeople to clear out and leave him sufficient fire zone.
With very little preliminary, other than ious military "precautions, the doughty General opened up with his two big guns on Colonel Chang's stronghold. The defence was weak and disunited. The} "pang keh" soon saw they were opposed to a spirited and formid-attack.- The rifle fire of General Lai's men was very withering, jand the bandits simply failed to stand up against it. Men fell thick) and fast. A timely rush of the General's men when the bandits were; badly disorganized, quickly ended the fight. Colone] Chang was shot} and killed, one of his Tuan Changs, named Wu, was killed, and i another officer whose name we have not learned. Over on hundred of! the bandits were slain, and many of the poor citizens were in casuality list simply because they did not get away in time. Colonel Chang and his two officers were speedily decapitated by the victorious soldiers, and their heads brought back to the Capital. Last Tuesday they were carried through the streets, then exhibited at one of the Yamen gates. There is profound rejoicing among the citizens, and General Lai Hsin Well's reputation haa strengthened because of his prompt and successful sortie. He has long been famous as am efficient artillery officer. This was exemplified in his famous attacks against the Yunnanese last year. This last encounter has added fresh laurels- to his fame. The General is very quiet and unassuming, but has abundance of courage and more than the ordinary sagacity and practical commonsense. hope he will keep up the good work, for there is surely plenty of room for it.
There is still much speculation ae to who will be next Governor. Liu Hsiang, at Chungking, is stilt the Tsong Si Ling, but his star is on the wane. Yang Tze Weh is the luminous figure in the political firmament. He in given credit for an efficient and honest administration both in Luchow and Chungking. Ho has cleared much of the bandit element in his jurisdiction. He stands well with students, and is a really progressive general. Hsiong Keh Wu, who is still in Chengtu, is very much in retire ment, In spite of his deserved popularity last year, at the present his prestige is rather diminished owing to the unsuccessful ventures beyond Ichang when Wu Pei-fo gave his troops their quietus.
Text read from the printed page and cleaned; old type leaves the occasional error.