er; has received orders from the National Government to warn Gen. Ww Chu-yn, his brigadier general at) Svochow, who has been appointed concurrent Bandit Suppression Commissioner, to take special precautions against uprisings, especially between now and May 1.
Pirates operating around the Yangtze entrance have created such havoc among the people of Nantungchow, Chihtung-hsien and. Tsun ming Islands during the past months says the Vernacular press, that the Jatter have been unable to bear it} any longer. They have decided to construct two gunboats to fight the marauders and already $200,000 has been collected for this purpose, The Commissioner of Civil Affairs for Kiangsw: Province has granted his permission for the building of these two. vessels.
Since the looting of Changyen, a town about 15 miles from. Sung-Kiang, on April 2, wild rumours have doen current in the surrounding districts, says, the Chinese pr the; people of Minghong especially very much agitated because it is.said that the ta fol are threateni to carry out an attack there whi on their way to the Taihu Lake Tegions, where they propose, it is said, to put up a fight against the troops sent to suppress them, Though these rumours ave sai be without foundation, the merchant volunteers and the local defence have been greatly strengthen-fand all preparations have. been mate for emergencies.
On the night of April 7, says the "sinwanpao," more than 200 bandits put in an appearance at Chukuchiao, the Shanghai District, and attacked the headquarters of the merchant volunteers, who were disarmed. After securing four rifles and two pistols, as well as a quantity of ammunition anid some booty. which they took from the people, they were about to flee, when members of the Greater Shanghai Bureau of Public Safety appeared. There was a short fight, during which the bandits escaped in the darkness.
According to the "Kastern Times," the pirates. who recently attacked various villages along the Kiangsu-Chekiang borders consist of three gangs. The members of these come from Pootung, Haichow and Siyang, respectively.
On the afternoon of Aprit 6, water Police met over 200 Pootung tufei at Shengkapang and, after a short engagement, defeated them.—The tufei lost three junks, nine rifles and: many red flags. A man who had been kidnapped by the pirates last month whilst on a pilgrimage to a temple in Soochow was. released after the bandits fled.
The Siyang gang also suffered a heavy defeat at the hands of Gen. Hsiung Hsizhui's men at Chengmoh, near Soochow, several days ago, Carrying out an ambush, the troops surprised the gang as they were going in junks along one of the Taiba waterways. A fierce fight ensued; during which the bandits suffered heavy losses, says the Chinese press. Of the gang of several hundred, "several' tens" were wiped out by} the rifle five of the troops.
Oh April 6, the Haichow gang also! came' into conflict with: the troops and'were defeated. Two junks and 'a number of the gang were captured, the others escaping.
The "Bagtern Times" also reports that an unsuecessfal attempt was made:-by pirates to hold up a Shatighai-Soochow launch on the samp: day... 'The pirates in eight Junk' placed themselves in positions hope of blacking the ware
Text read from the printed page and cleaned; old type leaves the occasional error.