Tsingtao, Fob, 10.
An unfortunate incident Invoiving. 'a Customs preventive cruiser and an alleged smuggler occurred in the walers just outside of Tsingtao Bay on Friday, Jan. 20 at 10 pin. It appears that the Customs, Haltung while cruising round, sighted what appeared to be a small, motor trading vessel of the "puffpufl type, acting in a suspicious manner, upon Which she signalled her to heave to, The signal was ignored and the vessel tried to escape, consequently the Customs vessel fired a number of rounds across her bow, all to no effect, The cruiser then launched her small motorboat with an armed party and managed to intercept the vessel and on going aboard ellelted the fact that she was the Datkoku Maru, Korean-owned, and had cleared from Tulngtao recently. without, the necessary papers and had just lett Dairen, again without the proper papers.
Evidence of sugar candy, sugar and other goods wore found on board and the cargo had evidently been dumped over the side under cover of the} darkness during the chase.
During the investigation on board the vessel, one of the crew threatened the Customs boarding party with an axe, upon which they drew their pistols, Inthe ensuing argument, one of the alleged smugglers made a grab for one of the pistols and it went off accidently, the bullet entering the cabin of the' boat and striking the {foot of the only Japanese member of the crew.
The Korean vessel was brought into port to the Customs anchorage the following morning and the matter is now under negotiation between the officials of the Japanese Consulate-General and the Customs amicable settlement is anticipated.
Text read from the printed page and cleaned; old type leaves the occasional error.