The Dawson news. (Dawson, Ga.) 1889-current, 1914-01-06
OUTLAWS LOOT CHINA
BRIGANDS IN BANDS AS LARGE
AS ARMIES CONTROL IN MANY
PROVINCES OF REPUBLIC.
FREEBOOTERSDE AUTHORITY

Rivers and Canals Are Infested With
Pirates. Foot and Cavalry Are
About on Shore. Two Thousand
Attacked City.
PEKIN, China.-Brigandage in
China has spread until some robber
bands have assumed the dignity of
small armies. They muster both foot
and cavalry and are as large as two
American regiments. No province is
free from bandits. From Manchuria,
where the Hunghutzes ply their
trade, to Kwangtung, infested by pi-
rates, and from Kiangsu to Turkes-
tan, come reports of freebooters who
defy the authorities.
There is no local police to cope
with the outlaws and the army is not
at present a dependable branch OF the
administration. China is never free
from brigandage, but it is only at
periods of transition, when the au-
thority of government is shaken by
political disorders like the recent re-
bellion, that the bands attain such
large proportions.
The American missionaries who
fed from their homes in the interior
of Fukien province are still at Foo
chow, unable to return because no
protection can be assured them by
the government. The American con-
sulate at Foochow and the legation
in Pekin have been trying in vain for
several months to get the Chinese
government to take vigorous action
against Hwang Liang, the outlaw
who proclaimed himself Sixteenth
Emperor of the Ming Dynasty.
Province Governed by Outlaws.
A consular report from Shensi says
that province is practically admins
tered by outlaws, who work solely in
their own interest. The governor adj
heres to the central government only
because there is no interference from
Pekin and because it is good policy
for him to describe himself as loyal.
The governor, as tutu, as he is call
ed, was a poor and INSCRIPTIONS Off
cial, but now he has amassed large
fortune and numerous harem.
The consul gives an account of how
the commanding general likewise OBJ
tanned wealth and authority. Being
appointed commissioner for the sup
preston of opium in the province,
says the report, he started on tour
with a body of troops. He took the
precaution always to send word
ahead announcing his approach, a
policy which, as is customary,
brought forth munificent presents
from the people If the presents
were ample no opium was discovered.
He confiscated only the prepared
drug. that being most easily portable
and OF the highest value, and brought
it back to the important centers and
sold ii.
A member of the American consul
lar service who came recnetly to Pc
kin from Canton says that piracy
along the rivers and canals is more
extensive than ever before. The au-
thorities are endeavoring to teTmi-
nate it by giving the chiefs govern
men. offices and incorporating the
Ordinary pirates and brigands in the
navy and army. 1t is evident that
this time-honored practice has not
passed away with the Manchu dy-
nasty.
The French legation has received
news of the burning Of Roman
Catholic mission church during the
plundering and burning Of town in
Southern Homan, not far from Tsao-
yang. where the American and Nor
wegian missionaries were made pris-
oners. The government has sent
troops in large numbers to fight
against white Wolf" the brigand
chief who is terrorizing that section
of the country, but according to the
report of another American consul
the soldiers, though sufficiently nu-