Thousands Desert City and Business at a Standstill "Frost Ovn Own Comesrossenr Tsingtao, Dec. 20.
Curfew last night was extended to) 10 pam. but to-night it has been savanced 106 pin," Very cold weather prevails, populace is. panic stricken' and thousands are. foehn: into the interior by every and Jmeans; those unable to get transport Jare walking. Japanese planes reconnoitring trips. visit "the mill districts two or three times a d3y, thus increasing the general fear of reprisals. These planes are apparent> from warships outside "rsingiao and a few residents claim they have Jscen four or five of these ships with the ald of field glasses.
Those unable to leave here, fear {for their lives, Due to widespread Tumours, tenants of Japanese-owned Fnouses und those residing near Jare moving out as fast as they pos" sibly can, in anticipation of these buildings being burned down, Shops Jare closed, the native banks have closed temporarily, but the foreign banks are functioning as usual. Coal Jdcalers are demanding $3 per ton for Jdciivery, os cart and wheelbarrow coolies are at a premium, 'A number of Japanese shops have been loved and it is quite probable that there will be more looting as there are numerous cond, hungry and destitsie people who would-be only {oo glad 10 get a little something for nothing. It is, however, to the efedit Of tne focal Administration that dur~ tug the past, four months they have "kept faith" with the evacuated Japanese, and managed to prevent de-Jpredations into their property. and. Dut for the continued qestruetive Programme of their naval and military forces elsewhere in China, their property might still have. re: mained intact in Isingtao, The plant Jof a Japanese company manufseturing rubber goods was fired this morning, match factory was also burnt.
No Comment from Japan comments regarding these Tsingtao Incidents have come over the radio from Japan as yet, it would appear as though the authorities not consider this serious loss of their cotton mills, good for general home and Joutside consumption—these cotton Interests in Tsinylao aggregate about to due as _menth wharves" being incapacitated a5 a it of the booms placed in the'
Will be fewer vessels calling here, harbour, there The Yee Tsoong Lobacco No. is at present the haven of refuge for about 3000 of "their factory hands and families, who are being fed and housed by the company until conditions im prove in flits tarrilied ey, Aamiral Shen, the Mayor, is still here in char ofa very dificult situation, The Consular Body has met and decided on what course-of action to take in the event of further developments and the foreign warships here Jat the moment are HIS, Suffolk (20,000 ton cruiser), U.S, Pope (destroyer), U.S.S. Sacramento (de patch ship) with the U.S.S. Marble-Jnead (8,000 ton cruiser) on the way from Shanghai, By Wednesday 22, all foreign schools here will be closed for the Christmas holidays.
Having been informed that looting of Japanese shops various parts of the city, Admi Shen made a personal tour of inspec tion and immediately issued orders for any persons found looting to be persons found helping [Japanese premises and arreste fiarge number. By this firm prompt handling of a. poten [dangerous situation, which have spread throughout the cil 'Mayor has prevented the whole affair, commencing with the firing of the' cotton mills, from deteriorating into @ wholesale pillage.
Squads of heavily armed police, marines and Paoantui are patrolling the streets and it seems that the local Jauthorities have no desire to involve the personal property of former Japanese residents, Curfew is from opin, to 7 oan, Last night a large godown, situated near the Small Harbour and owned by the Santo Kigyo Company, was fired. Japanese planes were quiet to-day, but the whole ely looks very de"srted.
Text read from the printed page and cleaned; old type leaves the occasional error.