TRAIN BANDITS

Otago Daily Times, Issue 18857, 9 May 1923, Page 7

TRAIN BANDITS

CHINA EXPRESS ROBBERY. AN ENGLISHMAN KILLED. CAPTIVES HELD FOR RANSOM. Press Association—By Telegraph— Copyright PEKING, May 6. Bandits -wrecked China’s finest express train near Shantung, imprisoning passengers, among whom was Mr Robert Swifli, publisher of a group of American newspapers. Miss Lucy Aldrich, a sister of Mrs John 1). Rockefeller, jun., is among those captured by bandits. It is believed that more than JO foreigners, including several American newspaper correspondents, are imprisoned. Twenty-eight foreigners, including 16 Americans, are held as hostages by the Chinese; also 300 Chinese. An Englishman named Rothman was killed. Those kidnapped include six ladies, who suffered severely, and were compelled to walk miles over rough country.—A. and N.Z. Cable. AMERICA WILL PROTEST. OFETCIAL CONFIRMATION AWAITED. WASHINGTON, May 6. The State Department is still without confirmation regarding details of the Shantung wreck, but it promises to make strong representations to China as soon as information is received.—A. and N.Z. Cable. WOMEN CAPTIVES RELEASED. CHINESE GOVERNMENT ASKED TO EXPLAIN. NEW YORK, May 7. The Standard Oil . Company has received a report stating that the bandits have released 10 of the foreigners, including all the women captives. The British and American Legations demanded that the Chinese Government should secure the immediate release of the captives and supply a full explanation. Tho bandits demand a ransom of 1,000,000 dollars. The brigands are part of a force of over 4000 whose stronghold is in the neighbouring mountains.—A. arid N.Z. Cables. REFUGEES REACH TIENTSIN DETAILS Ol' THE OUTRAGE. PEKING, May 7. (Received May 8, at 5.5 p.m. ) Mesdamos Allen and Finger, the wives of American army officers, have anived at Tientsin with three other refugees. Thev declare that the bandits fired a fusillade of shots before the train was derailed, after which they smashed the windows and dragged out the passengeia in their night clothes, compelling then to walk barefooted on the glass-littered ground. The passengers were then robbed of everything valuable. The bandits threatened to shoot the male captives if troops followed them. A small body of soldiers is reported to have engaged the bandits. Tho Britisher who was killed is named Mr Joseph Rothman. Among those kidnapped are Mr Scripps, proprietor of the United Press.—Reuter. PUNITIVE MEASURES, PLANS FOR UNITED ACTION. WASHINGTON, May 7. (Received May 8, at 5.5 p.m.) Mr Hughes and the Acting Secretary for War (Mr J. J. Davis) "discussed a plan To use American troops to help to capture the Chinese bandits. The United States has 1000 officers and men stationed at Tientsin, as well as a marine guard at Peking. While orders have not yet been despatched, it is learned that the United States will unite with the other foreign Governments as, in the Boxer uprising should the Chinese Government fail to act effectively. The State Department has received confirmation from the Tientsin Consul that the bandits have released the women prisoners.—A. and N.Z. Cable. A PERPLEXING SITUATION. THE BANDITS SURROUNDED. THREAT TO EiXECUTE CAPTIVES. SHANGHAI, May 7. ' (Received May 8, at 7.40 p.m.) Although the Chinese Government has despatched 10,000 troops after the bandits the officials 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 the prisoners, who are now known to include Frenchmen and Italians. The foreign diplomats at Peking : will confer to-mor-row as to what course of action will be taken. It is believed that the bandits are fleeing with the captives to Tushauhu, where a lake in tho mountains of South Shantung will he their rendezvous. A relief train from Peking to Tientsin, bearing the foreign consuls and physicians, was 'despatched when the news arrived that the women captives had been released. The women, who were barefooted, fell owing to exhaustion after being driven for some distance, and the bandits left them. The Women then crawled back to the scene of the wreck, from which point they were transported to Tientsin. A telegram from Lincheng, where the assault on the train occurred, states that the soldiers have surrounded tho bandit forces, and there has been continuous firing by both sides for many hours. A report that an American had been shot is now authenticated. All tho 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 there are only three Britishers among the captured foreigners.—A. and N.Z, Cable.