OUTRAGE BY BANDITS.

Poverty Bay Herald, Volume XLIX, Issue 16121, 9 May 1923, Page 3

OUTRAGE BY BANDITS.

ASSAILANTS NOW SURROUNDED BY SOLDIERS.

THREAT TO KILL CAPTIVES, (Elec. Tel. Copyright— Unites Press Assn.i Australian ana N.Z Cable Association.) SHANGHAI, May 7. Although the Chinese Government has despatched 10,000 troops after the bandits, officials express 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.

Foreign diplomats confer to-morrow as to what course of action shall be taken.

It is believed the bandits are fleeing with their captives to Tushauhu Lake, a wild rendezvous of bandits in the mountains of South Shantung. A relief train from Peking to Tientsin, bearing foreign consuls and physicians, was despatched when the. news arrived that the women captives had been released. The women, who were barefooted, after 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 ihey were transported to Tientsin. A telegram from Lincheng, where the assault on the train occurred, states that the soldiers have surrounded the bandit forces, and there has been continuous firing by both sides for many hours. The report that an American has been shot is now authenticated. All the women are reported to have been released, but (lie bandits threaten to execute the men prisoners if the soldiers are not withdrawn. It is reported there are only three Britishers among the captured foreigners.

(Received May 8, 12.45 p.m.) PEKIN, May 8.

Among the eleven captives released: by the bandits* are. four ladies, including Miss Aldrich.

As sown as tho bandits arrived' at their stronghold) soldiers came rip, 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 «P-