CHINESE BANDITS

Otago Daily Times, Issue 19046, 17 December 1923, Page 7

CHINESE BANDITS

THREE THOUSAND BRIGANDS ABROAD. AN ORGY OF PILLAGE. Press Association —By Telegraph—Copyright PEKING, December 15. (Received Dec. 16, at 5.5 p.m.) Despatches from Changsha declare that 'the Honan province continues to suffer from depredations by bandits. This time 5005 brigands led by the notorious Chen ■ Yen Teh and Wang Han Ying captured the towns of Chano and burned and looted the houses, kidnapping four officials and over 100 residents, including women. Fortunately many of the inhabitants escaped during the bandits furious pillaging and reported the matter. A magistrate was slain after he had been taken prisoner.—A. and N.Z. Cable. A message from Peking on December 6 stated that bandits, led by the notorious Loo Yan-gren, sealed the walls of Liewankia, in the south-east of Honan province, burnt the houses and slaughtered the population, leaving 2000 dead and wounded. The marauders displayed extraordinary frenzy, tying together groups of townspeople, pouring kerosene on them, and igniting them into living torches. The report was delayed for a fortnight. This was due to Liewankia’s isolated position. The statement declared that so great a number were killed that a' vast pit was dug for common interment. ' The foreign missionaries fled from the district. Lao Yan-gren's followers, who were burning the mission stations, terrorised the countryside for miles around, the bandit chieftain announcing that he would kill all who opposed him.