The principal event here has been the coming of the first snow of the season. The "The Times" weekly Sue re-introduced us to the word "niveous" and the end of the week brought the real thing. Saturday morning was mild enough but the wind Switched round to the north and the first hockey match was played in an overcast dullness that spoke of the probability of something more like real winter. The match (between School and Club) was a little one-sided in the School's favour, but vis bility was very poor and an accurate report is not to be had. To return to the weather—next morning, Sunday, there was a determined snowstorm, with most chilling northwesterly wind and the whole pla very soon became white. Frost followed and more snow so that the roads became icy and the young people brought out their sledges and toboggans. It is far too dry here for real sport in. snowballing, there are few suitable places for a 100d toboy st, jood fun, and the preparations for a rink on the Recreation Ground ive promise of early skating if the weather does not change and turn too mild again.
Wholesale Executions 'A. week or ten days ago there was a stir about bandits in the neighbouring city of Muping. News of this kind always savours strongly of hearsay, not to say exaggeration, yet it would seem that there is a good element of truth in these particular aports. It is said that a bus was held up, quite close to the city of 'Muping,' robbed and then abandoned. A few bus loads of soldiers were sent later to deal' with the situation.
It is said that in one or two villages suspected of harbouring gentry of this sort, the method took the form of rounding up the population and executing all the male members from sixteen years and upward, Some of the reports suggest that these di turbers are associated with the Red cause and that a number of seditious young women were arrested, who with bold face assert that since the powers that be seem unable or unwilling 10 tackle the problem of foreign aggression, the only alternative left is to assist the Reds.
'The very word Red causes a stir, and accordingly there has been marked revival of the good old institution of night watchmen, at least ju the eastern' part of Chefoo, and the resounding "clack" of the watchman's wood is to be heard at all hours of even the most bitter night, Reverting to more pleasant topics—the approach of Christmas and preparations for the festive season. At the Club a start is to be made with a sports day next Sunday, indoor sports, ping-pong and the like <then on Boxing Day there is to be the big Children's Party, in fancy dress, and finally the New Year's Eve party, also in fancy costume, which is ce-operating with Manchou-no, is determined to push ahead the survey work on the western frontier, in order to safeguard the Manchou-
Mongolia "Dangerous"
Changchun, Dec. 22, A statement issued here to-day by the Foreign OMice declares that, 23 the Outer Mongolian authorities have shown no signs of apologising for [Thursday's clash west of Lake Bult, Manchoukuo "will henceforth regard JOuter Mongolia asa. mysterious, Jdangerous and "hostile neighbour whose autonomy is dubious" and will {ake increased measures to defen it her frontier.
Plans for the consumption of a tripartite agreement between China, Japan and Manchoukuo to eliminate Soviet influence in China and Outer /Mongolia, are reported to have been jdiseussed' at a conference here to-day between representatives of the Kwantung Army and Colonel Selichi Kita, of the Tokyo General Staff—Reuter,
Text read from the printed page and cleaned; old type leaves the occasional error.