Daily Kennebec journal. [microfilm reel] (Augusta, Me.) 1870-1975, 1923-05-08
Picking, May (By A. P-Uncon1med reports have been
received here that the Suchow train bandits have killed
OF two of their prisoners.
To Press Inquiry

Washington. May 7-(By A. P)-
Action of Chinese bandits Of Shan.
tung province yesterday in holding
up an express train nd capturing a
number Of foreigners including 10
Americans, has created a situation
regarded as scriousl affecting the
.. continuance of friendly relations be-
tween the United States and China
The situation is held by some ofifs
Gals as containing elements Of still
broader scope. possibly involving
other governments in a similar en-
tangelement with China.
Minister Schurman at Picking in an
official report to Secretary Hughes.
received today. openly characterize
the developments as Serious" and
was Immediately instructed by the
State Department to press his in.
quiry, report the facts to Washing
ton. and make strong representations
to the Chinese. government.
Still other steps were said to be in
progress. but officials here declined
to throw any further light on the
CouTSc tdheu ny MiulSteT SCHuTWdH.
1t was indicated that II ny phases OF
the situation which could not be the
subject of detailed instructions from
Washington were left in the hands OF
Minister Schurman for execution.
One Of these was understood to be
the question Of initiating concerted
military action against the bandits.
in cooperation with the Picking gov
| eminent. in the event the Chinese
| authorities proved impotent and no
other effective way Of attaining the
! early release OF the prisoners was
found.
The council OF ministers Of the
various governments represented in
Picking is expected to mee' tomorrow
to discuss a course Of action.
Acting Secretary of War Davis.
after a conference with Secretary
Hughes, announced that the War
Department was being informed Of
the situation and was ready to~"back
up" any plan approved by the scotn-
Gil OF ministers and the Staet De-
partment.
Under the final protocol sighed In
September 1901. by the governments
| which participated in the expedition.
ali international military force has
/ been maintained in China for tho
purpose or keeping open 0Cmmunt-
cation between the capitol (Pcking)
and the sea-"
In accordance with this agreement
the United States has at present q
force OF IS officers and 1858 men sta
toned at Tientsin under command OF
Erigadier General William D. Common.
Even the reports from Minister
! Schurman. telling Of the reledse. by
the bandits of Miss Lucy Aldrich. sis
ter-in-law of John D. Rockefeller, Jr.
and the Misses McFadden and
Schonberg and OF the stringent or
| ders issued by the Chinese govern
ment to the Shantung authorities.
failed to relieve the tension which
has been keyed high since first re-
ports were received. -
A paraphase of Minister Schur-
mans report which contained the list
of - Americans believed to have
been on the express train from
Shanghai to Picking which was held
up by bandits" was made pubic, by
the State Department. 1t follows:
According to a message from
Picking. the latest Chinese infOrma-
tionis to the effect that the bandits
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