Tokyo, Apr. 19, In view of the increasing ser-' fonsness of the situation in Shan. tung the Cabinet has decided patch three companies—from Tientsin to Tsinan, a mixed brigade of 5,000 men from Kumamoto and 8 telegraph corps and railway detachment to Tsingtao for the purpose of protecting Japanese lives and property, Owing to the preparations cntailed the troops from Japan will not leave until April 23, though the! Tientsin detachment is expected to reach Tainan on April 21, The newspapers divided in opin-fon on the question of the despatch of troops to Shantung, though most of them ure extreme caution, [The "Kokumin" alone definitely approves their despatch, provided, however, that they are strictly for the protection of Japanese residents, The "Hech," the opposition organ, emphatically opposes the step owing to the risk of inciting suspicion and adverse criticism not only from the Chinese but also from the foreign Powers. The paper advocates the withdrawal of Japanese residents from Tsinan to Tsingtao until the situation has become quiet.
Text read from the printed page and cleaned; old type leaves the occasional error.