Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1904-05-04
MANCHuRIAN BRIaANDS.
Russians Deal With Them Severely
When Caught.

From the Sphere.
The Hun-hu-Tzes, or Chunchuses-the
word Is a corruption of the Chinese Hung
Hutzu (Red Beards)-have preyed on Man
churian merchants for many years. deriv-
ing their living from gold washing and oc-
casional raids, together with a system
known as brigand insurance. The suppress
sion of these brigands has been one Of the
great policies Of Russian administration.
but strange to say, great divergence OF
opinion exists as to its real value.
Fulford Bush who knows the country
we'll says that ''in all the principal towns
offices existed where the carriers or bean
boat shippers could purchase immunity, the
outward and visible sign of which con-
sisted of a small triangular flag, which In
sured the carrier, cart or boat against mo-
lestation or ptllage Though theoretically
reprehensible, in practice this system work.
ed admirably, as the premium paid was not
at all prohibitive The Russians, by their
expeditions against the brigands, who
CALLED them rather severely, split up these
united bands into several lesser sections,
and without diminishing their numbers de-
stroyed in a great measure their organiza-
ton, with the result that the carriers and
bean boat shippers, unable to purchase i'm
munity-the flag of one section being I'M
recognized by the others-cOuld no longer
ply their trade with the same degree Of
safety, or, In fact any safety at all. Ac-
cordingly. both produce and light stuff were
prevented from coming forward in the usual
quantities the entire trade of the province
being disturbed. 1t will be readily seen
that this In It's turn helped to swell the
ranks Of the disorganized robbers, as cut
off from the legitimate exercise of their
calling, the impoverished agriculturists and
carriers had to become the prayers or the
prey. the majority throwing In their lot
with the former as yielding better returns.
1T Is dangerous to NEEDLE with old-estab-
HShpd customs China.
Chinese modes of procedure, theoretically
incorrect though they be, are peculiarly
adapted to the conditions prevailing. In
the time of the China-Japan war these
Hung Hutzu bands offered the Japanese the
most obstinate resistance they met with in
the province. 1t will be a matter for sur
prise If In the present war they do not
materially contribute to the many difficult
ties with which the Russian forces will find
themselves confronted in operating in an
intensely inimical country
II. ]. Whigham In his new book on Man
churfa, describes Russian policing ex
petition against the Chunchuses. Mr.. Whg-
ham is quite pro-Russian, and bids us take
statements from British sources in New
Chwsng with Just the smallest pinch of
salt" The expedition which Mr.. Whigham
accompanied was under Colonel Genke, who
Is a nephew of Tschaikowsky the COM
poser. and who speaks English better than
most Englishmen. Colonel Genke was as
sisted by Mr.. McNaughton Of the Scottish
Presbyterian Mission, who acted as an in
terpreter. The object of the mission was
not at all to fight the robbers. but rather
to organize the native militia along the
banks of the Lao, and incidentally to es-
cort any bean junks which cared to avail
themselves Of the opportunity down to New
Chwang. The robbers nowhere go about In
large bodies. and even such combined forces
as they have split up and disappear at the
approach of the enemy. They hide in the
giant mfllet on the banks of the river and
ilre on the boats. 1t is not very satisfactory
firing volleys into the standing crops. Only
once" says Mr.. Whigham, did we have
chance Of pretty artillery practice, when a
band of mounted robbers had to cross a
bare slope in their fight about mile back
from the river" By the time New-Chwang
was reached no fewer than 5000 junks at
tached themselves to Colonel Genke's pro-
tecting force.
The trial of robber is a very rough and
ready affair. Caught by the Russians. he in
handed over to the Chinese authorities, Col
onel Genke reservins only the right to veto
a death penalty. Mr.. Whigham admits that
1t is always we'll to withdraw from a Chi
nese trial. and that innocent men may
occasionally be killed.