'Yesterday afternoon, December 23, a large body of soldiers, said to number over 1,000, were marched through the streets and divided into} small squads, of which some were statipred at' the city gates and street crossings, while others gave their attention' to tea-houses and hotels, wivich were subjected to systematic search. All people entering the city and all passers along! the streets were also held up and investigated.
These manceuvres, never before experienced in Huchow at first occasioned great alarm for it was thought that they presaged the long-threatened invasion of Landits.
Another popular idea was that Some radical change in the Government was taking place The apprehensions of the people wore gradually dissipated after it was learned that the soldiers were merely putting into effect one of the various new methods to be employed in the war on banditry. Alehough red by this knowledge the civilians did not take very kindly to the measures employed. They did not like to be searched, and some refused, The recalcitrants wore dealt with in a severe manner, fat least one man being left bound for an hour before being freed. Martial law continued, from 3 pam. until 7 in the evening when the! soldiers were withdrawn and ordinary conditions re-established.
Text read from the printed page and cleaned; old type leaves the occasional error.