Tsingtao, Nov. 16.
We learn from the vernacular press that, although the rehabilitation of Tsingtao will take place on Dec. 1, the handing over of the railway will be delayed until about March, as the term for transfer does not expire until three months alter that of the Leased Territory. The Japanese Consulate-General here has decided to open his office on December 2 and Mr. M. Yagi left. Peking recently for Tsingtao to make all necessary arrangements. Mr. Tanaya from Tsinan will also be here to assist in the! task. Mr. Mori, Consul-General at Tsinan, will be here about the 20th.
According to the Japanese census in Tsingtao proper, taken on November. 8, there are 5,723 households, or 10,995 males and 9,783 females, 20,778 Japanese in ai]. This does not include the soldiers in barracks.
Two more passenger boats will be put en the Japan-Tsingtao run before jong, as regular liners, in addition to the five already run-running. These ships are the Kobe Maru (2,950 tons-, formerly on the Dairen-Shanghai line for the South Manchuria Railway Ca., and the Kayo Maru (2,160 tons), formerly, chartered by the Shantung Union Steamship Ca., extra freighters will also be put on shotty.
There is no little uneasiness" amongst the Chinese and a certain section of the Japanese as to the! probability' of gang-robbery in this! district. Many of the well-to-do Chinese have protected their doors and windows with iron bars, some have decided to Visit Shanghai for a period after the place is handed over, whilst others have arranged with foreign friends to take refuge in their houses. In_ spite of denials, cases of robbery have taken place in and around Tsingtao, whilst in the outlying districts the inhabitants of the small villages live in terror of what may happen. An acquaintance, who is a good Chinese scholar, whilst out walking near Laoshan a few days ago, came upon a group of houses where the peasantry were in a terrible state of anxiety. They were scraping up every cash to meet the demands of robbers who had paid them a visit, intimating that they would return at nightfall, and if the sum demanded were not forthcoming, al] the houses would be burnt. They would not be persuaded to make a report at the nearest police station, as they said that they were afraid they might be detained on suspicion of complicity' with bad characters. Possibly rumours are exaggerated, but it would. certainly be wise. if some foreign protection were within call, so that these ruffians might know what to: expect if they made'
Text read from the printed page and cleaned; old type leaves the occasional error.