At the instigation of the Tsinan Governor the local Chinese Cham-her of Commerce iny'ted 15 of the bandit representatives to a banquet to be held in the Tungwha Hotel, one of the leading Chinese hotels in_the City, on November 30. At this banquet there were present Mr. Shu Hsi-ling, manager' of the Shantung Bank, and Chairman of the Chinese Chamber, and nine or ten other members of the "Chamber, Mr. Cheng i, the new Police Superintendent, Mr. Mao, the Shantung. Governor's personal representative, a_military officer, an officer of the Water Police, and "ther officials. Proceedings were at first most cordial. The represzatative of the bandits made the first speech, expressing his satisfaction that a friendly agreement had been reached, and congratulating all present upon the compromise. Then Mr. Mao of Tsinanfu replied in the same strain, to be followed by Mr. Shu, who also expressed hig satisfaction that everything had been settled. After he had resumed his seat another party of 15 armed bandits entered the room, declared that the other bandit guests were imposters, and "invited Mr. Shu to accompany them. They alleged that the Chamber and the provincial authorities had failed to fulfil their engagements; and that contrary to their pledges they had imported troops and police. Mr. Shu protest-but had no option but to comply h_the bandits' orders. He, and Mr. Mao, with two note Shantung officials were hurried out of the hotel into a waiting motor car, and carried off, first to the bandit headquarters in the city, _and subsequently, it is believed to village in the hinterland.
were only released after five or six days' detention.
Text read from the printed page and cleaned; old type leaves the occasional error.