The Omaha morning bee. [volume] (Omaha [Neb.]) 1922-1927, 1923-05-22
Invasion of
ShaEs ung
TT yrs%S'sI mod
~ -CuCu
q ss~
l. o. Powers 10 Start Res
,ae Force Unless Bandits
Release Prisoners With
in "a Hours.
Captives Expect Death
Captives Expect Death
by Universal Service.

Pekin. May 2l-American and other
foreign troops stationed IN China
were preparing tonight to rush to the
hills in Shantung province to rescue
from the Soochow bandits the Amerl-
ean and other foreign prisoners held
,there, The diplomatic representatives
of all countries whose citizens are in.
cluded in the group of captives today
served notice upon the Chinese gov.
ernment that unless the prisoners
We're released in "a hours the rescue
would be undertaken by foreign
troops.
At the same time the diplomatic
body announced thae despairing of
action by China's officials. they would
take up direct negotiations with the
bandits for the release Of the prison.
ers before ordering the troops into
action.
The peril of the captives became
known today through the arrival Of
Senora Nerea, bride of Manuel Nerea.
the paper manufacturer of Guadala-
bandits. She was seriously i'll and
was taken 10 hospital.
Captiyes Expect Death.
At the same time a message ar
rived from the Chevalier Musso, prom
inent Italian among the prisoners. de-
elaring that he expected to be exc
cuted along with the other prisoners
and asking that his relatives in Italy
be sent a message telling of his resig-
nation to impending death.
This message has stirred the for
signers throughout China and de.
mands are pouring in from private as
we'll as diplomatic sources upon the
Chinese government to take action.
The situations political turn has
caused grave fears that a general up
rising against foreigners may spread
throughout China and IL was report
ed tonight that the bandit chiefs, who
number among them several who
were students IN American and Euro
pean colleges would hold the Prison
ers as hostages for the resignation OF
President Li-Yuen-Iung. demanding
president and government of their
own choosing.
At the same time the message Of
the Chevalier Musso indicated thar the
foreign hating element of the bandits
might bring death to the captives ut
any moment. despite the more pacific
leaninGs of the student leaders.
Musso's MESA ge read:
Immediate steps must be taken or
we will be killed. await death
calmly. Wire my family in Italy"
Sonora Nerea was hysterical when
she arrived at Shanghai, through
fear that her husband would lie killed.
She called her experience in the han-
dit camp "ghastlg nightmare.
L. $. Ready. for Action.
Washington. May 2l-Praetieally
the entire Asiatic fleet of the Am,ri.
can navy. consisting Of Is destsoyers.
a cruiser a gunboat. supply ship
and other auxiliaries. are eoncen.
frated at Cfefu. Shantnng port near
est the bandit stronghold, ready for
any emergency.
These vessels are prepared to make
landings OF crew detacnments II
deemed necessary. The units, If sent
into the interior, would greatly weaa.
on the ships compliments. but IL Is
believed the engineer forces ief;
aboard to take care of the machinery
could hold off any possible attack
from shore. A few gun crews would
necessarily be left behind and the
deck forces would be drawn upon f1r
the landing party.
Chefu is 80 miles west Of Welllai-
wei, the English possession. and 100
miles south Of Port Arthur II was
made the base for the American YES
sells after most of them had been as
sembled at Tsln~tao. il0 miles to .hc
south