Gangsters, Kidnappers, Smugglers, Counterfeiters Operating: University Not to Close Fron Oun-Owst Contesnoxoeer Amoy, June 17.
Tension i felt still in Kulangsu over the recent shooting affray which three bandits were wounded. The city of Amoy Is an area forbidden to be visited by their police, It has been resolved to increase the detective force of the Municipality by three more men, AN piers and aproaches are carefully, but Unostentaviously, guarded day' and night by armed police, A tongkang was passed quite near the island Inst night and observed to be behaving suspiciously.
was ordered to. come alongside ne of the jetties, "The men on board the vessel refused to obey the order, anda number of rifle shots were fired of it, This brought the men to realize that the matter was serious, and the tongkang drew up alongside the pier. Nothing was found on board, but, the incident indicates that the bandit's threats of reprisals are entertained seriously and unremitting vigilance is exercised, The Amoy detective force are hunting the bandit Rang on this side, but, so far, have not located them, An order was made by the Kulangsu Munie!pal Couneit thata tax of ten cents would be levied, in future, beginning from June 15, all sampans plying across." the harbour from Kulangsu to Amoy. The collection will form a fund from which the family of the detectly who was killed in the affray, will be compensated and for fulure use should similar eases occur, This tax was the subject of much comment by the Chinese press which pointed oat that this was a tax that would be levied almost exclusively from the comparatively poor who erossed the harbour sometimes twice daily to work, Kulangsu, it was stated, was the home of many retired wealthy Chinese, and it was they who could really afford to give to this worthy object. "They, rather, should be asked to give generously to form a public fund for the object in view. Once a tox of this kind has grown' Into use, it becomes permanent.
Dr, Lim Boon-keng Not Retiring 'The rumour regarding the retirement of Dr, Lim Boon-keng from the Prosidentia' chair of Amoy University was not correct, and calm now pre vails in place of the previous "uncertainty and agitation, The Colleges of Arts and Education will be merged to suit a reduced expenditure, as las year the Colleges of Law and Commerce were joined.
Complaints wore made to the Central and the Provincial Govern-ber of the faculty who itent's. position and asserted that Dr. Lim was too old and wholly unable to perform the ties required of him, Letters were to Singapore, {0 Mr, Tan Kah-kee, stating that the Central and Provineial Government would not con tinue to support the University unless he and Dr, Lim retired, The League of Nation's "representative visiting China, Dr, A. Stampar, came to the University and sent a report to Nai King, It was exceedingly eulogistic and the Central Government in for warding a copy of it to the President slated that their subsidy. would be continued ax would also that of the Provincial Government earned immediately were spent in some Taiwan gambling house. "The s, Lushan Maru came to Amoy from the North on May 25, and they were engaged to transport, it Is said, about $10,000 worth of" smuggled Goods "ashore. Their commission amounted to $1,200 and jubilantly off they went to get rid of it their usual manner They ost $800 and. wished to leave the house, but more spirits were given to them and they were persuaded to remain, They lost all and then gambled on credit to the amount of $000 for which they gave ION'S and. promised to pay up within a week. Since then nothing has been heard of them, Famine stalks through certain areas of North Fukien, the Namehi Yuchi and Shahsien districts. The Provincial Government at Foochow have shipped 11,000 bags of rice to relieve the immediate necessities of the people. Shipments will be made daily until the. situation is relieved and then junks will take the place of the steamers in transporting food {o these starving areas, Law in Changchow Early last week martial law. was proclaimed in Changchow. Anyone walking the streets, even in daylight, Ig lable to be stopped and there and then searched for arms, Women are subjected to the same treatment, One evening, on old deaf man of fifty years Was going home after his day's work. The police shouted to him to stop, but he did not hear, On he foddled and was shot when within a few feet of the police cordon.
'The district of Changchow is in anything but a happy condition, A few months ago, the military authorities approached' the bandits that in-feated the outlying districts with the offer of a pardon for past offences and employment in one of the regular armies of China. The offer was accepted, peace prevailed, The general in charge a month later, asked the chiefs of these bandit gangs to gather in Changchow for the purpose of receiving instruction and tuition, The first order they received was to lay down their arms which they promptly refused to do. On their refusal, they were shot once and their old followers when they heard what had occurred immediately deserted to the hills. Banditry is worse than ever. Armed soldiers travel with each motor bus and the old village "keeps" are fled with soldiers. Even steam the Jaunches playing between Amoy and Fookong have soldiers on board. The gage of travellers is examined no Jess than four different times in the short journey.
The shooting of these bandit leaders, of course, was a great mistake. Confidence has been destroyed and nothing now remains but the destruction of these desperate, frightened men who might, in other circumstances, have been good soldiers and helpers the cause of peace and the prosperity of the country.
Text read from the printed page and cleaned; old type leaves the occasional error.