Bandit encounters are of such frequent occurrence that except when casualities are numerous or some special feature is noted, they can hardly be classified as news. For example the Harbin Garrison reports that during March they had no less 66 encounters with bandits, in which the total number of opponents was 5420, or an average of about 90 bandits each time. The report continues that 211 bandits were kill ed and 2 captured, while seventeen captives were rescued, The usual details of arms, ammunition and animals taken are given.
Ttis to be understood that the total number of bandits encountered Is the sum of the estimated number all engagements. Since individual Landits may have taken part in several encounters, the number given for greater then the actual number of outlaws operating.
'AL this reason of the year the number of bandits active is usually minimum, the total rising to a maximum just before the kaoliang' ig harvested. 'The authorities estimate that the total number in the country has been reduced to about' 2000. The dimeulty of obtaining reliable figures will be at once ay preciated, but it is believed that the total Is the lowest since 1931, in other words the extraordinary' increase in the number of outlaws due to the scattered soldiers of the old North Eastern Army, police driven out from captured cities, farmers' deprived of their ordinary' means of livelihood because of disturbed state of the country, and bands of parti ans opposed to the new regime has been wiped out after more than four and a half years of campaigning, and there are now only about as many armed bandits as there were ten years ago, Foreigners have very fortunately suffered but little at the hands of the outlaws during the past year. After a long period of walting word was brought in this week that the 'American captive, Father C, J. Burns of the Marynoll' Mission, who was held by bandits near the Korean border, is still. alive. The district where Father Burns is captive is a wild hilly area and military operations slow and dificult,
Text read from the printed page and cleaned; old type leaves the occasional error.