Tsangchow, Oct. 18
In the early part of this summer there appeared in these columns somewhat detailed account of bandit activities in this district. The state of general Jawlessness reported then continued unchecked throughout the summer. Indeed, the cool audacity of one brigand. chief, "Liu, the Earless." and his exploits in Tsangchow city during July and August enhanced his reputation to such a degree that the local civil and military officials cut a very poor figure beside the hero of the hour. As the bandit leaders of this vicinity bold commissions in the notorious 26th Division, now stationed chang, it was obvious that no assistance could be expected from Tsao Ying's braves in the task of tackling the situation. When things looked hopeless, the newly elected Civil Governor of Chihli, Gen. Wang Cheng-pin, commander Of the 28rd Division, despatched a mixed brigade to Tsangchow, with orders: to sweep the district clean of bandits and restore pieace. These troops, which had acquitted themselves creditably in the recent fighting near ' Shanhaikuan, arrived late in August, and their keen soldierly bearing inspired the hope that at last the pest from which this and the neighbouring counties have suffered for several years would be dealt with summarily.
However, after the lapse of nearly two months, one is forced to the conclusion that the situation is practically unchanged. It ie truce that there have been a few skirmishes between the troops and roving bands of brigands, but no resounding and decisive victory for the Government forces. Not one of the powerful chiefs has been captured. They have simply betoken themselves with their followers to their Shantung border, to renew their depredations in the districts of Yenshan and Chingyun, whither the troops! seen disinclined to follow them. Some dozen miserable wretches, accomplices of the bandits, have been, captured. and decapitated on -the local execution ground outside the city during the past month. The captain of - the Tsangchow magistrate's guard, Liu, Chao-ching, himself an ex- -robber, and, of course, in league with the bandits, has been shadowed while ona visi: to Tientsin and arrested there in the possession of in-] hi criminatory evidence. Also, the wife of Ting Pao-ching, a well-known brigand leader, has been taken by the troops and is now incarcerated in the local yamen, but the above, are the only achievements to the credit of the Civil Governor's representatives— not a very remarkable performance, alter eight weeks in the district.
Text read from the printed page and cleaned; old type leaves the occasional error.