Evening star., 1923-05-12
Course Suggested in Letter
of Maj. Pinger, Held Pris-
oner, May Be Followed.
SONS OF u. S. OFFICERS
RETURNED TO MOTHERS
Bows Enthusiastic Over Adventure.
Report Two Women in Hands
of Outlaws.
By the Associated Press.

By the Associated Press.
TIENTSIN. May 1o-Payments of
ransom, or compliance with whatever
other terms the Chinese train bandits
OF the Shantung hills might demand
for the return Of their foreign cap
ttvcs, seems today more than ever the
only feasible move, in view of the
letter, urging such a course. received
here from Maj Roland Pinger. one OF
the two American Army officers taken
TO the outlaws stronghold with the
other passengers of the Shanghai
Peking express train after it was de-
rallied near Suchow last Sunday.
Not only was the letter from Maj.
Pinger dispatched here from the
bandits retreat today. but the young
son of Maj. Pinger-Roland, jr,,--was
also. He came in company with an
OF Mai. Allen. the other American Of
ficer held for ransom.
Boys Like Adventure.
The two lads. clad in Chinese cloth
ing. apparently were in good physical
condition when returned to their very
anxious mothers. The mothers. who
were on the train, but were not taken
into the hills by the bandits, had re-
manned here awaiting word of their
imperiled families. The boys were
enthusiastic over the adventure" and
said the bandits had taken fancy to
them, seeing that they suffered no i'll.
The Pinger and Allen boys reported
IN, nf
outlaws. They were unable to iden-
1ify the women. but from their de-
scriptions IT is believed that one is
Sonora Manuel Ancira Verea, wife of
a prominent Mexican, who also is
held Sonora Verea was reported to
have refused to leave her husband
when the bandits offered to release
her with a number Of the other for
eign women. There is no surmise
here as to the identity of the other
woman mentioned by. the boys. The
boys added that both Of the foreign
women were at the bandits head
quarters and we're in Chinese dress.
Refused to Treat.
It was reported here that the ban
dts had refused to treat with the
commander of the Chinese troops sur
rounding the mountains because of A
blood enmity between him and the
bandit chief. occasioned when the
commander executed brother of the
chief. Negotiations. however, were
said to be proceeding haltingly be-
tween the outlaws and Kiangs gen.
eral. and II is believed here that If
the troops are withdrawn the cap
tives will be freed soon.
Escaped Chinese prisoners said they
recognized among the leaders Of the
bandits former officers of Gen. Chang
Ching-yao, who was governor of the
province of Human in 1920, when
Rev. w. a. Reimert. an American
missionary, was murdered by Human
troops. At that time the American
held responsible.
Want Status Restored.
One of the conditions said to have
been laid down by the bandits is the
restoration of their former status as
regular soldiers. They are described
10 have wrecked the express train as
2 last resort when they were pressed
hotly by troops.
1t is estimated that there are 8 900
bandits within a radius of fifty miles
Those guarding the captives are in
trenched over tunneled fortress on
Top of a mountain. They are admirably
situated to resist a siege.
1t is reported from Lincheng that
these brigands are five miles from
Tsaochuang, with rescuers in close
communication.