Tsingtao, Feb. 25.
There is little of cheerful purport to record concerning this delightful but ill-starred little town Robberies cease to be of interest, or it might be related how a pawnbroker's establishment has just been burgled and relieved of $900 cash and valuables worth over $800. Burglars also visited the residence of a British subject, who was asked, on lodging his complaint, if he could identify his visitors. His reply was in the affirmative and} that he had also taken their names and addresses, but the subtleties of foreign humour were Jost on those concerned.
What is of more consequence is significant aggressiveness of the Chinese since the restoration of Shantung, and the unwarranted intrusion on the rights of foreigners. Only a few days ago, a Chinese officer' wag detected by the quartermaster on a British ship, walking round the decks and looking into the windows of the cabins. The sailor inquired the business of the visitor, but the reply he received was the production of a revolver. Fortunately, the first mate cam, on the scene, and informed the officer that he was trespassing on a British ship, and that he must immediately pocket his firearms. His response was that this was a Chinese port, and that he had been struck and insulted by the quartermaster, an absurd statement to anyone knowing the Chinese and their fear of their own police, te say nothing of the madness of assaulting an armed man in authority.
Text read from the printed page and cleaned; old type leaves the occasional error.