The southern part of Shaohsing has long been disturbed by' robber bands, and the district of Chenghsien has suffered most of all from depredations of these gentlemen. Last year it was customary for the outlaws to carry off the sons of the wealthy and well-to do and to hold them up for ransom. The poor of the district and travellers on their way to Taichow were rarely, if ever, molested. In fact last year the robbers were content to play the part of Robin Hood and his merry men, but this year they have grown fiercer and more. vindictive. The bands have increased in numbers and now march in regular forma tion like soldiers. They are all armed with rifles and are said to wear uniform resembling that of the local troops.
Their present tactics are to warn a family that they require the sum of $500 or $1,000, and if the money is not forthcoming, the homestead is burnt to the ground. So vindictive have the robbers become that in some instances they have refused to allow the inmates to escape from the burning homes. The authorities have at last been moved to take action and to proceed against the robber bands in force. This week a battalion of soldiers have been sent from
Text read from the printed page and cleaned; old type leaves the occasional error.