The new magistrate of Luchowfu, Anhui, while proceeding to that city to take up his post, is reported have been robbed by bandits. The official was proceeding from Wuhu to Luchowfu by the regular launch which plies daily between the two cities, After passing the city of jen, the launch crosses Chao it was at this point that the large and violent group of bandits appeared in call boats, and cooperating with their companions who had taken passage on the boat held up the onthe launch. 'This is the third time within' recent months that the launch has been pirated near this spot. On the last occasion some $30,000 was looted from merchants who were proceeding to the interior to buy rice.
In spite of these repeated attacks on the laurel, there is but little effort to capture the bandits. It to be hoped that the new magistrate will take the lesson to heart. His experience should be a good indication as to his future duties dealing with the bandit menace, There are many thousands of soldiers in the district.
Whole brigades of these soldiers are called bandit suppression troops, but they prefer to remain in com. fortable berths to the arduous and. thankless task of chasing bandits. It is reported that a large body of there troops are to be sent to Kiangsi to suppress bandits in that province. The residents of this district would be delighted to see these bandit} suppression troops do their stuff right here in the limelight where we can all watch the fun.
The Opium Problem It is a pleasure to be able to report from the interior that in apito of the large numbers of troops. moving through this section, th mission schools, churches, and other buildings are not at will ey the troops. The authorities in Nanking have put forth a strong effort to stop the use of church and mission properties by troops in the interior, A proclamation from Nanking together with the ¢o-operation of the local magistrate has been effective in more than one case in preventing soldiers from occupying private property needed for other purposes.
Travel in the interior of Anhui fat this season of the year always calls one's attention to the opium suppression question. All tal about opium suppression in China by the real powers that control the country and also all pretended efforts to suppress the evil may bt discounted about one hundred per'
ut. as long as the farmers, are allowed to grow the poppy in perfect peace and safety so far as any official interference is concerned. 'There is one sure' and" certain place where the opium evil ear be dealt a severe blow, and that is at the point of production. It is very vulnerable just at this point. The poppy is planted in the fall, and al! the winter the tell-tale plants are growing. in the fields inviting officialdom to either destroy the plants or else get ready for. the reaping of the opium tax.
The area planted to opium even within one hundred and fifty miles of Nanking is even larger than ever, this year. There is promise of a very large crop for the growers, and a still larger harvest of taxes for the lucky militarist ihe controls the province.
Tt is this huge opium tax which makes Anhui so valuable a plum for the mi 5 to compete for. of group of small cities and set up their Soviet form of government. The soldiers who are opposing them have not shown any strong desire; to engage them in battle, always Teaving a way for them to get out, when they seemed surrounded and about to be captured. Unless troops are sent into does not appear the Reds will be defeated or driven out. The city of; Hohow is now under siege, should! it fall, Ho Lung has threatened to Kill every man. woman, and chill inside the wall:
Text read from the printed page and cleaned; old type leaves the occasional error.