Hankow, Feb. 7.
The small section of the southeastern portion of the Hupeh Province which lies south of the Yang-should, if its geographical situation is: considered, be in a position adequate help from the Provincial Capital. The distance from Wuchang to the most distant town in this little province is not more th miles, and yet it is this very portion which is suffering most terribly from the ravages of communi The bands which emerged from Yangsin to attack Tayeh and carry off the Rev. H. W. K. Sandy and Inter Jooted the tea-trade contre at Yanglotung have naturally left the neighbourhood of Tayeh now that there are some troops there.
It will be remembered that during September and October last the country. town of Tungshan was taken by these men. The magistrate fled and from that time till now no other magistrate has taken office nor have any soldiers been sent there. The citizens live in dread of fresh demands for money, and men being shot almost every day. They claim that messages which they send to Wuchang are not answered and announce that they will be driven to adhere to the communist party or perish, On New Year's day of all days a band of a thousand men made a vapid march from Tungshan to the busy little town of Tingshichiao and arrived there at three in the afternoon when all the folk were in festive mood. The town was sur Yyounded, a fusillade of shots showed the futility of resistance, and the whole place was looted. A. minor official and some of the shopkeepers. were shot, and twenty men were carried off, It is said that this and had sent a message threaten: ing Hienning, and so the magistrate there had called' fu the troops -the-smalter towns like Tingshichiao so that Hienning might be safe. This band left the next day and marched off in the direction of Teungyang, looting a large village called Pelichiao on the way and Killing several persons there.
Phere have been a good many armed robberies during the holiday. One of these was on somewhat unusual lines for a party of ten men, claiming to be policemen in. plain clothes, entered the little Temple the Western Regions and informced the solitary priest in charge that they had come to arrest him as a communist agent. He denied the charge, but finally agreed to hand over $80 which he had in hand to these men. This they took, but also made him sign a promissory note for $200 more, He has informed the police and clainfed their protection.
In another ease the proprietor of a Jarge clothes store received a threatening note demanding a large' stim of money. He handed the note to' the police and one of the head-detectives by a ruse secured the aryest of a man named Han who kept the appointment to get the money. The proprietor has now received second note saying that unless arranges for the release within three days of their leader Han, the band will destroy his property and take his life.
Feb. 13.
The change over from General Liu Shih to General Ho Chen-chin as Garrigon Commander here has been effected with minimum of fuss. general was enter ies, but has been so busy with military matters of pressing importance that he has not been much in touch with tthe civil life of the port... His headquarters was closed most expedi viously yesterday and his stof embarked on the CLS. Luenyi with the Whampoa cadets. The general himself left by the Kienkuo early; this morning. lis successor has been looking over the mass of peti tions which awaited his attention and is impressed with the large number which come from the officials and gentry of important towns asking for deliverance from brigand raids, Much information has already can printed in the: "North-China Daily. Nows".on this topic and the allied subject of communist -nctivit-Jes, but it may be well to summarize the methods adopted by the communists in their work. No names need be given, for the story to be told is furnished in almost exactly' the same words by persons who have come from four different counties, each person speaking for this own disteiet and knowing nothing of the conditions in the other counties.
First be it said that all inform ants agree that the communists seem intent on the suppression of vice. Gambling, _opium-smoking and even tobacco-smoking are for-hidden by the leaders, and the members of the.various bands have to yield prompt and unquestioning obedience. Indiscriminate looting is banned. And any oppression of those who have made submit the communist régine is forbidden. On the other hand religion of all Kinds is persecuted; idols are destroyed, idolatrous rites are forbidden, and Christian services are pro-ited. Tu one case the lips of a Christian preacher who offended the communists were cut, out before he was shot, Christians and idolaters alike have to conduct their worship the secrecy of their homes. "Each main band selects a valley among the lofty mountains where water can be found as its centre. The passes leading into this valley are fortified at the most suitable points and stores of arms and ammunition are centred there. Some of the bands are said to have chine-guns mounted to guard their fastnesses.
The usual procedure on entering town, this entry often being affected by treachery or by sending men in to the town in the guise of peasants, is to attack the yamen and rob a few of the most important shops as a hint to the populace. In many cases the magistrates try to fly, accompanied by the local soldiers, and in this ease an ambush often works havoc. Any of the people who try to fly with the soldiers are robbed of all that they But those who stay in their homes: are subjected to heavy levies, but their lives ave for the most part not endangered and the women are not molested deli An attempt is made, whether in town or in the villages, to destroy all deeds of property, all account books and all records. A special attempt is made to destroy all government papers. Lists of those who have oppressed the people are compiled and those adjudged guilty are likely to the shot at once, In one town 200 persons were so deal with. When a town is first occupied by the communists life goes. fon very much as usual save for the general dread of denunciation by an enemy and the inevitable con-Sequences. Trade is ordered to continue and the country people are directed to bring in produce for sale.
Trouble begins as soon as the magistrate manages to return with an escort of soldiers and the communist leaders withdraw their men.
'A tactful magistrate does not a tempt to punish the people who have been compelled to help the communists, but all magistrates are not tactful." The gates are genorally shut and there is a constant dread of spies. Perhaps one peasant bringing his produce for sale is arrested and shot as a spy. This news spreads through the countryside and no other peasants venture near the city. Perhaps soldiers in small detachments are sent out to look for -provisions or to urge the people to regain confidence, and these sol wre set upon by communists in hiding and defeated. In that ease the city gates will be closed rigidly and the inflow of country produce will cease. Towns could be named which are enduring a shortage of food according to the messages that have come through although there is plenty to be had in the surrounding country. The officials and soldiers will not take the risk of a second surprise attack, though the shopkeepers would glad-_ ly take it if they were free to act.
The question of the real attitude of the people is one that is not} answered easily, but the impression gained from letters and conversation is that the people are anxious neither to be communists or anticommunists, but to be left alone. At the same time the prin
Text read from the printed page and cleaned; old type leaves the occasional error.