Shanghai, Mar, 4.
Questioned yesterday regarding the possible shortage of petrol in Shanghai an oficial of the Standard. Vacuum Oil Company replied that the company would not ration any~ thing. He admitted a present local shortage of diesel engine all and was unable to state when the dwindling local supply would-be replenished by shipments from abroad, Apprehension regarding a possible future shortage of gasoline in the city prompted numerous garages and transportation companies to. make additional purchases yesterday. Enquiries made disclosed that stocks of gasoline here suflce for several more months, discounting the fear? and rumours that an immediate shortage is impending.
Rumours of a possible shortage of 7.¥.c. gasoline, according to another source, Were started by speculators in the expectation of profiteering Inter as a result of hoarding.
'A. shortage of diesel of for any Jength of time would result. incon impairment or curtailment of the transportation facilities in. the city, but it is believed among some quart fers that new supplies would arrive by the end of March, Shanghai, Feb. 28.
Two alleged leaders of kidnappers and robbers in the Western District fare reported by the "Central China Daily News" to have been arrested by the Chinese police in the Western District where they have! also committed several murders. The Chinese police are said to be! paying serious attention to the case, for the men are also alleged to be responsible for the shooting of one the police offers.
The arrest of Chen Lal-wu, said to be a notorious gangster operating In the Tstokadoo area, came as a. result. of secret information reaching the Chinese police after complaints! had been made that a Pao Fu-po, the former compradore of a Japanese firm living in the area under the gangster's sphere of influence, had repeatedly received extortion letters. Pao pald no attention to the letters frst, but the latest strongly worded etter demanded $20,000 and it was! accompanied by a bullet, Relentless efforts made by the police to arrest Chen were eventually crowned with success, but Chen Sleadfastly denied that he had con-Rections with any extortion gang. Meanwhile, the police arrested six more men, one of whom is alleged have actually confessed to having] written the extortion letters. "He operates a tea house just opposite his intended victim's residence, Both Chen and the latter man, named Ho Kan-tsaf, were questioned Joinily at length by the officers and they are alleged to have confessed to a number of crimes, including the attack ona branch police officer in Teaokadoo last year, They are also alleged to have confessed that they. were responsible for the murder of Keng Ssu-pao, a Chinese police chief, Li Suchen, a seeret_agent working under the gendarmerie, and also one Li Wen-lung. They have kidnapped Tang Ho-sen, a cattle dealer, It ts stated.
Text read from the printed page and cleaned; old type leaves the occasional error.