Shanghai, Dec. 10.
The motor vessel Kaysieg, which had the German flag painted on the funnel and the side of the bridge, iwas seized by the Japanese military about 1245 pam. yesterday as she lay alongside the International - Dock, Jowned by the Shanghai Dockyards.
In command of two officers, three Japanese launches appeared' at the dock and after some discussion with the crew, forced them to release the ropes from the dock she was tied up. Dock officials and crew were powerless to prevent the seizure.
One of the wires securing the vessel to the dock was passed over Jo British vessel also at the dock but the captain refused to heed the instructions of the Japanese officers to release it'and they took other measures. aes Extortioners Nabbed—_ Plans of Re-Opening Tu Action Exchanges Denied Two extortioners were arrested between 8 and 9 o'clock last night just they were about to receive the sum of $500 from their would-be victim, hardware merchant with premises at 261 Kiangse Road, According to information available late last night, the merchant had been receiving threatening letters for some time, but whilst the original demand was for $5,000, subsequent negotiations between the extortioners and the victim, reduced this sum to $500. The! hardware merchant had declined, however, to make a complaint to the police and it was through "an formant that the "homicide squad' at headquarters heard of the plot to get the money and the date and time ft which the money was to be handed. over by a_ messenger.
Detectives. were accordingly posted in Lane 445 Foochow Road. without. the knowledge of the would-be victim and the first man was arrested at 8.0 o'clock just as he was being handed package containing $500 in notes, messenger. Information obtained from, him, resulted in another arrest being made at 462 North Soochow Road, where an accomplice was awaiting the return of his friend with the money, Both men will face the First Special District Court this morning.
It is understood that the extortion ers claimed to be collecting the money on behalf of Chinese guerillas, Electric Motors Disappear Wild rumours to the effect that Chie nese exchange merchants had sent petition to the French Consul-General to be iven permission to put the various Tocal "exchanges under /French management, were emphatlealdenied by the French authorities yesterday afternoon, Tu Chinese reports concerning the it was stated that some rench interests had assured Chinese exchange merchants of their cooperation and that a. petition had_Fe-cently been sent to the French Consular authorities under the. names of the French partners, asking' for approval of the plan. "The French Consul-General, however, denied yesterday afternoon that such a petition lever been received oF heard of, Alter having secured the approval of the French authorities, Chinese Feports continue, another petition would be dispatched to Chungking although considerable diMeulty would probably "be encountered in. getting Permission from the National. Gove ernment inasmuch as ite regulations stipulate that only one exchange of kind is to be tolerated in Shangha, Although closed, the various ex-Jchanges in this city would thus be deemed in existence by the Chinese Jauthorities, the closure being considered ofa temporary nature owing 2 changed conditions and og the various exchanges in this city have not as yet been dissolved by the Government, From Factory
Text read from the printed page and cleaned; old type leaves the occasional error.