To add to the troubles of the poor, since they are always the ones most affected, is a tightening-up of military conscription. This had been greatly relaxed, it being said that the Central Government had sufficient troops. But now the pathetic spectacle of young conscripts arriving from the villages into the city seeking means Of escape or evasion, iS becoming again a common one.
One bright spot in this gloomy picture is the elimination of banditry. Before the war travel into the heart of the hill country was a perilous adventure. Now, because of the soldiers billeted all over the territory, no bandit dare show his head.
The foreign community of Wenchow has increased beyond all records. Mr. A. L. Powell is the latest replacement in the Customs, though Mr. and Mrs. Wallman have recently arrived from Chefoo, the former to deputize for the commissioner who is away. The Methodist Mission have received a new recruit to the staff, the Rev. P. Hibbert, and a second doctor is expected shortly. Mr. and Mrs. Hemingway of the A.P.C. have returned to Wenchow from Ningpo, and will reside on the office premises. The Hospital of the Catholic Mission has a new foreign doctor and his wife, Dr. and Mrs. Ritter, who came to Wenchow recently from Vienna.
Text read from the printed page and cleaned; old type leaves the occasional error.