The Washington times. [volume] (Washington [D.C.]) 1902-1939, 1923-05-07
Report of kidnapping
Is Confirmed By u. S.
Minister at Picking
BY international News Service.


Official confirmation was received
here today of the capture Of nine.
teen foreigners, including some
Americans, by Chinese bandits in
the province of Shantung. 1t is
assumed that Miss Lucy Aldrich.
sister Of Mrs. John D. Rockefeller,
was among the Americans taken.
One foreigner lost his life in the
fighting that accompanied the hold
up. He has been identified as a
British subject named Rossman.
Confirmation of the bandit out.
rage came from DIR. Jacob Gould
Schurman, American minister at
Peking, who based his advises on
the report Of an American aboard
the Peking-Shanghai express, and
who escaped.
Text OF Shurman Cable.
Minister Schurman's cable fol-
lows:
Express train which left Shanghai
saturday morning was held up at
z O'Clock Sunday morning by
bandits near Lincheng in the
province of Shangtung. Out of
twenty-s1x foreigners, nineteen were
neld captive, including Powell, of
the Weekly Review; Rothman,
BRUSH subject, killed. Bandits pur-
sued by a small military force.
situation serious, but there is little
information SO far. Have tele-
graphed Shanghai to inquire If
other Americans were on train
Information received from an Amer.
lean on the scene"
The message was sent from
Islnanfu at midnight Sunday.
Schurman's first cable contained
no information of the reported can.
ture of Miss Aldrich.
1t was announced officially at
the State Department after the re.
port was made public that no rep.
reservations would be made to
emma until further details were re.
celVed from the American minister
Additional facts are expected hourly
30 far as the United States alone
is concerned, the situation as agra
waited, as the bandit raid comes
close on the heels of the CoItmar
case, not yet cleared up, in which
thls Government has made strona
demands upon the Peking govern
ment. Charles Coltman, an Ameri
can business man, was murdered
ana the American consul accom-
panylng him was fired upon Iast
December by provincial authorities
and thus far the Chinese have moi
taken steps in this matter satisfac
tory TO the United States.
Conditions in China have beer
growing worse for months. accord
ing TO official advices to Washing
Ton. Bandltry, always prevalent
even in times of comparative peact
and tranquility has increased bI
leaps and bounds in recent months
and conditions have now reached 8
point where foreign travellers ar.
not safe In any part OF the RepIIh
lie. Conditions are comparahIe II
was said today. to Mexico during II,
worst period. when dozens OF han
dit gangs operating as Independent
armies, rOaIned the provinces al
will, living off the country. anr
committing deDredations where /,
pleased them.
PeklnG Rule u Weak.
The central government a. re
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