A KIDNAPPING INDUSTRY.

Press, Volume LXVII, Issue 20316, 15 August 1931, Page 5

A KIDNAPPING INDUSTRY.

METHODS IN SHANGHAI. IMITATION OF CHICAGO. (By tho Shanghai Correspondent of the "Manchester Guardian.") The use of the motor-car by Shanghai outlaws in their kidnapping and gun and opium running exploits is an obvious imitation of Chicago's most approved "gang" methods, and when one adds tho accompanying pursuit of tho desperadoes by tho police in other motor-cars, with pistol battles in thu open streets, Hollywood could produce nothing more realktiu in silent i>r sound Jiliu. One of the police reports of tho Municipal Council of the International Settlement recently listed tho American movies as constituting a potent iniluence in the crimo wave in the settlement. Russian Bodyguards. The Shanghai kidnapping industry has been responsible for the creation of lucrative occupations for bodyguards, most of them being \V hits Russians who saw service in Semenoff's and Koltehak's Siberian adventures. On occasion it has been rumoured that some of these Russian bodyguards who servo rich Chinese merchants were on too intimate terms with tho leaders of kidnapping gangs but such ruinouts were quieted recently owing to two or three being killed in particularly daring kidnapping exploits, ono of these taking place on Bubbling Well road in broad daylight. In this case tho Russian bodyguard and tho young daughter of the Chinese victim were both killed. Wealthy Chinese who desire to employ bodyguards apply to the Police Department, which makes a business of supply.ng trustworthy men for this purpose, most of them being assigned to this duty from Shanghai's little "standing army,'' consisting of two companies of White Russians, designated in the police reports as "paid volunteers." Bandit Gangs. While Chinese kidnapping and bandit gangs may have improved their art by a study of the methods of A 1 Capono, "Bugs" Moran, and "Legs" Diamond, and by an inspection of Hollywood productions shown in this r.art of the world, Chinese "gang" outlawry has a venerable history extending back through the centuries. For example, the underworld activities of tho Shanghai French Concession ore controlled by a group known as the •'Chin-Hung-Pang," or blue-red gang, the "rod" in this case having nothing whatever to do with tho doctrines of Moscow. According to tradition, this gang had its origin at the beginning of the late Manchu dynasty about 225 years ago. Originally it was composed of patriots belonging to the overthrown Ching dynasty, their object being to deliver the country from tho Mnnchus. Later the gang degenerated into criminality, and it is popularly reputed to control most of Shanghai's vice, including gambling, prostitution, opium, and narcotic traffic; on occasion it is supposed to engage in kidnapping. The names of Flie heads of this gang are well known and powerful in local politics. Many Hiding Places. The fact that the foreign concessions are the 6ceno of most of tho kidnappiug exploits is due to two reasons. First, most of the wealthy Chinese merchants and ex-officials reside in the foreign areas; second, Chinese criminals hide in the settlements in order to avoid their own native police authorities, who are more familiar with the actions of the' criminals than are the foreign police authorities. The existence of three separate cities at Shanghai, one International, one French, and the large Chinee-administered area, whifh surrounds the _ foreign districts, also helps tho criminals, because they can fleo from one area into another when pursued by the police. While banditry and kidnapping have always existed in China, both have h(v.-n aggravated by the civil wars which have cursed the country for the past dozen jears. It has always been customary for opposing commanders to suleidise bandit gangs to operate behind the lines of their adversaries. Armed, encouraged, and paid for doing this work in war-time, they naturallv continue tho occupation on their own after peace hns been declared.