Ultimatum to Peking: Threat by Admiral Tu to Seize Salt Moneys Peking, Mar. 26.
The crews of three Chinese gunboats have demanded from General Ma Lien-chia, the Tuchun of Anhui, their 10 months' arrears of. wages, failing which they have declared their intention to strike. The captains of the vessels have been instructed to pacify the men, whose attitude has created anxiety.—Reuter.
Admiral Tu Shih-kuei, Com mander-in-Chief of the Chinese Fleet, has despatched an ultimatum to the Central Government in Peking demanding the payment of the naval salaries which have been in arrears for the past 12 months. Admiral Tu states that while the Government expressly promised to pay each month the sum of $500,- 000 for naval salaries and $200,000 for coal supplies, from the salt revenue, not a cent has been received. Should the money not be forthcoming from the Ministry of Finance at once, states Admiral Tu, an order will be issued for the officers and men to proceed to the 12th Salt District and commandeer the revenues, In support of this demand, Gen. Chi Shih-yuan, Tuchun of Kiangsu, has telegraphed to the Government urging the payment of the naval salaries before unpleasant results occur. Gen. Chi states that he will not be responsible if the salt revenues are commandeered.
At a Cabinet meeting on Saturday last the Minister of Navy is reported to have said that hitherto the Salt Revenue Department has failed to hand over the salaries monthly. He would ask, therefore, that the Ministry of Finance be instructed to hand the money over to him (the Minister of Navy) and he would see that the men are paid regularly.
This suggestion was adopted and the Ministry of Finance ordered to see that it was carried out. At the same time a telegram was despatched to Admiral Tu stating that steps had been taken to pay the men and asking him not td take any rash steps. a', In last week's issue we drew attention to this situation and pointed out the likelihood of unpleasantness unless the men's wages were paid.—Ed,
Text read from the printed page and cleaned; old type leaves the occasional error.