A DILEMMA

Evening Post, Volume CV, Issue 109, 9 May 1923, Page 5

A DILEMMA

CHINA AND THE BANDITS

GOVERNMENT PERPLEXED

ACTION BETWEEN TROOPS AND

OUTLAWS.

(UNITBD PRESS ASSOCIATION COPIRIOHT.)

(AUSTRALIAN - NEW ZEALAND CABLE ASSOCIATION.)

SHANGHAI, 7th May,

Although the Chinese Government has dispatched ten thousand troops after the bandits, officials have expressed fears that the prisoners may be murdered if the outlaws are too closely pursued. The Government is in great perplexity, frankly declaring that it does not know what measures to take to effect the release of th prisoners, who are now known to include Frenchmen and Italians. The foreign diplomats at Pekin will confer to-morrow as to what course of action shall be taken. It is believed the bandits are fleeing with their captives to Tushau-hu Lake, the wild rendezvous of the bandits in the mountains of South Shantung.

A relief train from Pekin to Tientsin, bearing foreign consuls and physicians, was dispatched when the news arrived that the women captives had been released. The women, who were barefooted, afer being driven some distance by the bandits fell owing to exhaustion, and the bandits left them. The women then crawled back to the scene of the wreck, from which point they were trans, ported to Tientsin. A telegram from Lincheng, where the assault on the train occurred, states that soldiers have surrounded the : bandit forces, and there has been continuous firing on both sides for many hours. The report that an American had been shot is now authenticated. All the women are reported to have been released, but the^bandits threaten to execute the men prisoners if the soldiers are not withdrawn. It is reported that only three Britishers are among the captured foreigners. v (REUTERs TELEGRAM.)

(Received 9th May, 12.30 p.m.)

PEKIN, Bth May.

Among the eleven captives who were released-by the bandits, and who have arrived at' Tientsin, are four ladies, including Miss Aldrich. As soon as the bandits arrived at their stronghold, soldiers came up, and fighting ensued. The brigand chief sent a message to the troops ordering them to cease fire, otherwise the prisoners would be shot.

Further troops are hurrying up,

DIPLOMATS SHOW THE WAY OUT

(Received 9th May, 12.30 p.m.) WASHINGTON, Bth May. Ths State Department has announced that the foreign diplomats' meeting at P.ekin demanded that the Chinese Government shall ransom the captives.