Gen. Chao's Withdrawal: Loan Levy in Kueiyang: Penalties for Non-Payment From Our Own Correspondent, Kueiyang, Kuei, June 16.
By means of reliable detectives General Tang learned strength of General Cho's forees and then laid his plans for surrounding his opponent, General Chao discovered Tang's intention in time to get away toward the Szechuan border after borrowing the sum of $150,000. from merchants and others in Tsunyi. All the talk about a big fight did not even end in smoke, byt it might be said there was some dust, for the troops retired quickly enough to raise a dust.
A loan of one million dollars has been floated and Kueiyang is responsible for the sum of $200,- while the other cities are to raise the $800,000 between them. Che method of working is as follows: The committee serves the person with a notice that he is to provide a certain sum; if the amount is forthcoming in the week after the notice is served $98 will be reckoned as $100; if the money is not paid until the week, then full money must be handed over: if after that date, then the person will be arrested and imprisoned until it is decided what is the amount of tine to be imposed. As usual, thuse who have influence with the committee get put down for smaller sums, while those who have no influence have "'to pay through—the nose.""
One mine) munity, who was connected with the financial] department in years gone by, thought he would try and doctor the notice served him. The notice requested him to pay $200, but he got to work and afterwards the amount read $100. When the latter amount was handed over the officer in charge turned up the stub and found that an alteration had been made, Sequel:—Fined $1,000 for doctoring the notice. (Rumour says the high authorities have declared that $1,000. for such at offence is out of proportion with the nature of the offence and have announced that an additional $1,000 must be "coughed up.") Interest is to be allowed for a term and then the notes are to be accepted by the Government at face value. Some of the common people ask the question, "But if the folk who are issuing these notes are not round when the term is over, what will be the value of the notes?" No one seems inclined to answer the question.
Text read from the printed page and cleaned; old type leaves the occasional error.