Hongkong, Apr. 24, Five suspected pirates were arrested this week by the Hongkong: police. They came to Hongkong a short while ago by a junk from Bias Bay, and apparently fearing graest they did not go ashore but remained in their boat which was eachored in Kovleon Bay on the euposite side of the Island. Reeeiv. ing information of their hiding Place, the police made a raid, but although they were in plain clothes cir intentions were suspected and one of the pirates plunged into the ater. An English policeman fired the hope of preventing the others from dashing into the water.
Attracted by the revolver shot 8 police launch came to the spot, and all the five pirates were a vested. A search of the junk made, though nothing was revealed to show the mission of the five men. Te is said that evidence of previous, pivactes is available as against two of the men, and: this will be duly brought up at the hearing before the magistracy to-day or to-morrow.
The police are drawing a dragnet over all suspected pirates and those who took part in previous images. They gather that another piracy is being planned in this colony. This time the pirates are tending, so it is said, to operate against @ vessel that carries bul-Hons and other valuables. The pirates ave believed to be in Hongkong waiting to embark on a Hong-Kong-Shanghai steamer in order to familiarize themselves with the beatings and topography of the ship.
However, since Bias Bay is in Chinese territory, the Canton naval Authorities axe making some efforts to clear the free-booters from that rea, The Department of Reconsstuction and the headquarters the Fourth Naval Squadron are cooperating in the construction of a barrack on Bias Bay overlooking the whole district where the sea marnawere very active of late, Al:
a marine corps consisting of 150 men are permanently stationing close to the Bay as a means of preventing the sea rovers from hid-{ing there. In addition to the marines, the gunboat Haifu. (Sea Tiger) is 4 anchor in the Bay. The plans for erecting a barrack ashore have Leen drawn up, and. construction Will begin as soon as appropriations There is at present a wireless station in that place. It is now working again, the damages done by the mutinous troops three weeks ago having been repaired, So it now should be dificult: for the ruflans to make this strip of water. the Feadquarters of their activities, An official of the Reconstruction Depart. nient informs your correspondent that when garrisons station in that district, piracies in South China seas wil belong to the past.
is hoped that the suppression of birney, will lead to a reduction of the premiums for the insurance of goods consigned from Hongkong to the coast ports of China, Travel: Jers public between Hongkong and Shanghai have to pay the high feyes parts of North China" by boarding on ocean-going steamers n order to escape the risk of Because of the size of these big rs, pirates would never secure control of them. The passenger fare fon these large steamers is expensive because the rate is figured on ster-Jing oF gold dollars. "The coasting essels do not increase their fare, bat middle class people and rich folks do not patronize them "for fear of piratical attacks. To clean up the pirates in these waters. will Mean & boom to the shipping com-Danies of the coastwise steamers.
Tie next annual meeting of the Cama Agricultural Association wil be held in Tsingtao on a date to be announced later. missionaries asked for protection, they would have been given it, They erred in not informing the authorities before making a trip away from their compound with a party of nuns, so that they were Jargely to blame for what happened.
Once he had seen the head of the provincial government, the Minister became more tranquil and had subsequently tea with his host, attend Jing with an officer from the Sebastian Cnet.
Text read from the printed page and cleaned; old type leaves the occasional error.