CHINA'S BANDIT CRISIS.

New Zealand Herald, Volume LX, Issue 18404, 21 May 1923, Page 7

CHINA'S BANDIT CRISIS.

GOVERNMENT IMPOTENT.

ANOTHER OFFER MADE.

COMMISSIONS IN ARMY.

By. Teh graph—Press Association—Copyright. (Received 11 p.m. A. and N.Z. PEKING. May CO, Advice received by the foreign legations to-day indicated that there was stronger ground for anticipating the release of the captives now in the hands of the ban dits. The Governor of Shantung telegraphed that a messenger had been sent to the bandits offering the leaders commissions in the army and agreeing to incorporate the entire bandit force into the Shantung army. . Government troops in the Lincheng district are themselves in arrears of pay. They have begun to murmur, and threats have been made that the troops may join the bandits. The Government, which would agree to the bandits' demands that Government troops be withdrawn from Shantung, are, however, powerless because the Tuchuns (military Governors) refuse to permit such a withdrawal. The Shanghai Chamber of Commerce, which represents one of the most important British communities in China, has sent a copy of a resolution passed by the Chamber to the British Government expressing horror at the bandits' detention of British subjects, and asking that action be taken to secure their release.

WITHDRAWAL OF TROOPS.

FRESH NOTE TO BE SENT.

(Rocd. 5 p.m.) NEW YORK. May 19. The Poking Government has announced that further negotiations with the bandits seem impossible. The latter have gained numerically and now demand the withdrawal of all Government troops throughout Shantung. . * : Tho Washington State Department has advised Peking that the Diplomatic Corps is sending a fresh Note demanding that China shall withdraw troops from tho bandit territory.

A FINAL ULTIMATUM.

CAPTIVES MAY BE SHOT.

Australian and N.Z. Cable Association. A. and NZ. SHANGHAI, May 38. According to what the bandits term their final ultimatum, delivered "by M. Berube, a French prisoner, whom they temporarily released to act as their envoy, the American and British captives will bo shot on Tuesday; if tho Chinese troops bo not withdrawn.