In this part of southeastern Tibet (Yen Chin, Hsikang) there are two harvest seasons, thanks to a long growing season and the presence of water for irrigation of the crops. The robbing season is even longer, as nothing but heavy snows or stinging defeat in battle can dampen the ardour of the brigands in Tibetan border country. And defeat, it seems, only causes a burning desire for revenge against their enemies to grow in the hearts of conquered brigands.
Some months ago an attack was made against Atuntze by the Ahtongwa Tibetans after their robber chieftain was slain by his foes at Afuntze. The attacking band was soundly defeated with quite heavy loss of life. As their numbers were so reduced by the fighting that they could not hope to win unaided against their fo they spent the following months in making raids against outlying villages, and in appealing to other robber tribes to join with them against their enemy.
In this they met with some success, Their next attack was made against a large caravan coming from Yunnan en route to Tibet. The brigands without any loss among their own numbers slew a young lama priest known as a "living Buddha" against whom they held a grudge, and several of his comrades. He with a number of other lamas and civilians had in the spring come to the defence of Atuntze after the first attack, when it was feared that a later raid might be made against that little trading centre.
Three weeks after slaying the "living Buddha," the second big attack was made by night against Atuntze by Fe Ahtongwa. In this they were assisted by robber tribes from the right bank of the Yangtze in Yunnan, as well as by the notorious Durasih robbers in large number from further north across the Yangtze in Hsikang vince.
Combined Robber Forces Plans for the attack had been for several weeks in the making it develops, and evidently nothing was done to check nor hinder the Durrasih from joining their robber friends in \pper Yunnan and proceeding against Atuntze. The combined robber forces probably numbered close to 1,000 men. They perhaps outnumbered the defenders of Atuntze at least three to one. As their main desire seemed to be io plunder the place, they slew comparatively few, possibly 20 people consisting of the Chinese captain, two or three of his under officer: and several soldiers and a few citizens of Atuntze Their attempts to burn houses failed dismally, ab they only succeeded in burning one small house. They are said to have secured rich booty, but paid dearly for it, as their losses were at least double that of the defending forge. How many of them may have Wet later from infected woundsfwill pkob= ably. never be known. Had they possessed sufficient bravery to remain until daylight, it is believed. they could easily have captured the town, but they fled just before dawn.
One week later a much smaller number of them had summoned sufficient courage to return and attempt by night to burn Atuntze. Again they only succeeded in burning one house and were quickly driven off. Subsequently their only raids have been insignificant ones, in which they have gone to small villages driving off livestock and robbing some of the villagers. Once again reinforcements from down in Yunnan have been sent to the defence of Atuntze.
One wonders if anything definite will be done this time to insure the future peace and safety of the Atuntze region, as sporadic efforts along that line have failed dismally before. Should the leaders of the prevailing religion (heathen) of all this country ever exert themselves to impress upon their blinded followers the sinfulness of murder and pillage, future historians might be able to pen a much different story than it is now possible to record Japanese pioneers in the South Sea even though it is unspectacular and scattered, will, as it progresses and spreads and accumulates, become eventually a powerful source of Japans national strength. They share in carrying the Empire's de-stirly on their shoulders. In this spirit, go south, young people.
Americans shut out Japanese set-Yers. Evidently they think them not worthy to develop the waste places. I should like to show such Americans what we Japanese are doing in the islands of the Pacific.
I do not think there has been any decline in the Japanese people's enthusiasm in supporting our forces at the front Who knows but what a crisis greater than any we. have had yet may arise. The real strength of the Japanese will then be shown. No people on earth can compare with the Japanese. Then, fortunately, we have plenty of food. Scarcity of food is a threat to national morale, but fortunately we do not run that risk, Our government has its anxieties from time to time, but it can fully trust our people. No doubt there are bad men even among the Japanese, but someone has said the Japanese are a gold mine. I think they are even better, as the percentage of precious metal is much higher. But we must be careful not to be taken unawares,
Text read from the printed page and cleaned; old type leaves the occasional error.