Visitors Scared by Hunghutze Raids: Bandits help with Bumper Opium Crop From Our Own Correspondent, Harbin, Aug. 28.
Though so far this year there has been very little trouble with the Hunghutze on the timber concessions that are dotted along the eastern section of the (. E. R., things have not been as quiet as they might be along the main line. From the time of the revolt of Ca], Lu Yuen-kuei and his troops at Pogranitchaays at the end of May last, there have been periodical raids along the main line by bandits, who make a point of attacking sub-stations and out-of-the-way places that are but poorly protected by the Railway Guards. This sort of thing has caused a good deal of scare to foreign residents in the Railway Area and as a consequence the summer resorts at stations like Imianopo, Jelaitun, Ertzinzantst, ete., which hitherto have been se popular, have this season been very poorly patronized by visitors, notwithstanding the fact that the railway administration has tried to boom them by establishing sanitorlums where special low rates are charged, issuing cheap excursion and season tickets, arranging special concerts and theatrical performances, ete. trains have caused the militeny The recent raids upon passenger authorities to attach armoured-cars with quick-firing and machine-guns to trains on the eastern section of the railway from Imiampo to the frontier, whilst on the rest of the line the train guards have been increased to 40, Tue Lure or Opium.
One of tht principal reasons why tha timber concessions have been left alone this season is that the opium crop on the eastern frontier and in the Ussuri district is a bumper one and many of the Hunghutze have been working on the numerous plantations situated in the hills in these districts, whilst others are engaged in the illicit sale of the dri or are levying contributions from growers and traders. Reports from the Huundahoetze district are to the effect that there has this year been planting on a much larger scale hit fo in the hills and valleys at no great distance from the railway-line, and that the crop is an excellent one The farmers have had the protection and assist-anoa of the Hunghutze to carry on on their work, so have not been afraid of having visit from soldiers or officials who might destroy the rope.
Text read from the printed page and cleaned; old type leaves the occasional error.