YOUTHS RESENT SLUR.

Press, Volume LXIII, Issue 18902, 18 January 1927, Page 7

YOUTHS RESENT SLUR.

"KNOCK-KNEED MILKSOPS" WELL-KNOWN EXPLORER ATTACKED. (BY CABLE—PBESS ASSOCIATION—COPrRIOHT.) (ATTSTBALIAX and k.z. cable association.) LONDON, January 16. Immediately after broadcasting a London talk dealing with his adventures iu Central America, in which the explorer Mr Frederick Mitchell-Hedges declared that life would be very grey without excitement, he was the subject of a mysterious hold-up in a lonely spot. while motoring home to BournO' mouth.

A man suddenly appeared on the road way and appealed to Mr Mitchell Hedges and his party to stop and assist an injured man to hospital. Mr Mit-chell-Hedges's chauffeur accompanied the man. When he did not return, Mr Mitchell-Hedges and a companion followed and were amazed to discover the chauffeur, bound by ropes, on the roadside. Immediately five or sis men attacked them, and a struggle occurred. Eventually the attackers ran off in the darkness. When Mr Mitchell-Hedges and his companion picked themselves up and returned to the motor-car,, they discovered that the explorer's handbag, containing valuable papers relating to business in Honduras, as well as several specimens of mummified human heads, shrunk by Central American Indians by a secret process, were all missing. Mr Mitchell-Hedges, who is obviously affeeted by the rough handling, is reticent. He made the statement that he did not want publicity thrown on the adventure, but would give £SOOO to undo what had happened. "It is either a practical joke promoted by the lectures, or ah expertlyplanned plot to get' possession of certain documents,." 6aid Mr MitchellHedges in an interview with the "Weekly Dispatch." " I cannot explain the nature of the documents, but they are of almost international importance, worth everything to me, as they concerned ■ the exploration work which has been niy life's hobby. They would be very valuablo to others who would be glad merely to destroy them."

The explorer added that he had received threatening aUbnymous letters as a result of hia attacks on "Milksops, and knock-kneed adventureleßS Charlestoniug youths," and stating that unless he ceased these attacks, he would bo got at.

A PRACTICAL JOKE.

TAKEN IN SPORTING SPIRIT".

(AtTSTBAHAN AND N.K. CABLE ASSOCIATION.)

LONDON, January 16.

Mr Mitchell-Hedges announced tonight the receipt of a letter showing that the attack on him was merely & practical joke by half a dozen youths who resented the explorer's recent condemnation of modern young men for lack of enterprise, pluck, and spirit of adventure.

The explorer's bag was restored unopened. .Mr Mitchell-Hedges sportingly accepted the explanation, and says that the writer anyhow has got a priceless black eye'