For over a year a large number of recruits for the new Police. force, which, It!s hoped, will eventually be employed in the "so-called neutral territory between Tangshan and Shanhaikuan, have been quartered in Tsangchow. There are 6,000 of them, composing the second Tsung Tui, the first being in training at Yangts'un be: tween Tieatsin and Peking, and the third somewhere else in the province, Well officered and excellently disciplined, they present a very smart appearance on parade and the greatest credit is due to their commander, Chang Yin-tien, for the results of his! able handling of the raw material with which he started, He has the reputation of being martinet who stands no nonsense, and there is no dauby that his men have been imbued with ideals of public service, strict attention to duty and courtesy that have produced a welcome change after the succession of uniformed ruffians, who have been stationed in Tsangchow during. past years. The people have rubbed their eyes in astonishment to see this police force at work making new roads, workmanlike squads cleaning up the city, levelling the uneven streets for rickshaw and cart traffic and generally themselves useful instead of pest to inoffensive citizens.
The old soldier type, legacy of the civil wars of the past decade, is hopeless material in any capacity, but Chang Tui-chang has shown what cab be done with tractable village lads, uunbrutalized by the atmosphere of military camp. It was never expected that they would be here so long. There have been repeated rumours of a speedy departure for Lanchow, but so far nothing has come of them. However wearisome this protracted delay may be to all concerned, there is no sign of staleness or slackening! of discipline among the mien. They, are drilling, marching or working all day long and their behaviour, when off duty, is highly commended by the shopkeepers and people generally. 'When they go, they will carry with' them the best wishes of the city and Tackling Drug TraMe The sudden activity in official circles, under increased pressure from Nanking, to tackle the scandal of widespread selling and use of nar-ties is striking panic into the hearts of addicts every where. Large num. bers are being rounded up and made undergo an official cure, -vhich may or may not be effective, according to he honesty or venality displayed by che servants in the institution where patients are segregated. It is freely rumoured that, if he hes sufficient funds to bribe the doorkeeper, patient need be without the drug during his cur As usual, the cart is being put be} fore the horse and rio determined
Text read from the printed page and cleaned; old type leaves the occasional error.