Forest City press. (Forest City, Potter County, D.T. [S.D.]) 1883-19??, 1911-06-22
sRleANps.
Russians Deal with Them Severely
When Csusht.

Russians Deal with Them Severely
When Caught.
Sphere: The Hun-hu-Tzea or
Chunchuses-the word is Il corruption
of the Chinese Hung Hutzu (Red
Seards)--have preyed on Manchurian
merchants for many years. deriving
their living from gold washing and oc-
caslonal raids, together with a system
known as brigand insurance. The sup
preston 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.
Fuiford Bush, who knows the coun-
try we'll. says that lin all the principal
towns Offices existed where the carriers
or Dean boat shippers could purchase
immunity, the outward and visible
sign of which consisted of a small tri-
angular flag, which insured the car
rier, cart or boat against m~olestation
OF pillage. Though theoretically rep
Worked admirably, as the premium
paid was not at all prohibitive. The
Russians, by their expeditions against
the b%rigands, who CALLED them rather
severely, split up these united bands
into several lesser sections. and with
stroyed in a great measure their or
ganization, with the result that the
carriers and bean boat shippers, unable
10 purchase immunity-the flag of one
gection being unrecognized by the 9TH
ers-could no longer ply their trade
with the same degree of safety. or, in
fact, any safety at all. Accordingly.
both produce and light stuff were pre-
vented from coming forward in the
usual quantities, the entire trade Of
the province being disturbed. 1t will
be readily seen that his in it's urn
helped to swell the ranks of the disor-
ganized robbers. as. cut off from the
Legitimate exercise of their calling, the
Impoverished agriculturalists and car
riers had to become the prayers or the
prey, the majority throwing in their lot
with the former as yielding better re-
turns.
1T is dangerous to NEEDLE with old
many of the Chinese modes of proce-
lure, theoretically incorrect though
they be, are peculiarly adapted to the
conditions prevailing. In the time of
the China-Japan war these Hung Hut
Iu bands offered the Japanese the most
the province. 1t will be a matter for
surprise ii in the present war they
do not materially contribute to the
many difficulties with which the Rus
sian forces will find themselves con
fronted in operating in an intensely
tnimical country"
H. j. Whigham in his new book OIL
Manchuria describes a Russian policing
expedition against the Chunchuses. Mr..
Whfgham Is quite pro-Russian. and
bids us take statements from British
sources in Newchwang with Just the
smallest pinch of salt" The expedition
which Mr.. Whigham accompanied was
under Colonel Genke, who is a nephew
pf Tschaikowsky, the composer, and
who speaks English better than most
IEnglishmen. Colonel Genke was as
sisted by Mr.. McNaughtoh of the Scot
fish Presbyterian mission. who acted
us an interpreter. The object Of the
mission vas not at all to fight the
robbers, but rather to organize the ma
live militia along the banks Of the
ILiao, and incidentally to escort any
bean junks which cared to avail them
selves of the opportunity down to New
I:hwang. The robbers Nowhere go about
In large bodies, and even such COM
|bined forces as they have split up and
disappear at h approach of the enc
Itny. They hide in the giant millet on
I!he banks of the river n fire on the
boats. 1t is not very satisfactory firing
Ivolleys into the standing crops. "Only
Ipnce," says Mr.. Whigham, did we
have a chance of pretty artillery prac-
Iltce, when a band of mounted robbers
had to cross a bare slope in their flight
nbout a mile back from the river
BY the time Newchwang was reached
no fewer than 5000 junks attached
themselves to Colonel Genke's protect.
Ing force.
The trial of a robber is a very rough
End ready affair; Caught by the Rus
slams, he is handed owe to the Chinese
authorities, Colonel Genke reservins
only the right to veto a death penalty
Mr.. Whigham admits that it is Away.
we'll to withdraw from a Chinese trial
and that innocent men may occasion.
ln11v ho ki1lod