The Birmingham age-herald. [volume] (Birmingham, Ala.) 1902-1950, 1923-05-23
War And State Departments
Comforting Upon Possible
Military Action In Effort To
Secure Release Of United
States Citizens Still Held
PRISONERS LIVES ARE
NOW HANGING IN BALANCE
Only 1000 U. S. Soldiers
Are Stationed In China, But
1900 More May Be Moved
From ManiIa-ResCue Expi-
dition Being Considered
Ry RAYMOND CLAPPER
Ueased Wire to The Herald

WASHINGTON. May 22-With the
| lives of the American and other for
eign captives in China hanging by n
thread. officials here are surveying
quietly the military resources that
would be available for a rescue
expedition. Naturally. every one in
authority guards his words care
fully at such a critical moment. But
talk of a punitive expedition Is in
the air, though the government has
made no decision. Such an extreme
method will be postponed until all
other means have failed
1T is significant that the state de-
partment and the war department
are exchanging information regard
ing the troops that would be avail
able for rescue expedition. Acting
Secretary of War Davis conferred
twice with Secretary of State
Hughes on Tuesday. He has gather
ed figures as to the number of
and on the Pacific coast which could
be started on short notice. The
United States has less than 1000
troops in China and the powers to-
gether have only about 5000.
Send Men From Manila.
About 1.500 American soldiers
could be sent from Manila But the
main body of any expedition would
have to be transported direct from
the United States.
No orders have gone out from tho
war department bearing on the
OF War Davis said Tuesday
Our mission is to be ready to go
II we are called" he said. explaining
the purpose of the conferences.
which are now taking place and the
visit ha made to the war plans
division, of the general staff.
Meantime Impotence grows
steadily during the long periods OF
breathless waiting between official
dispatches from Pekin. President
Harding and his advisers realize
they will be unable to resist for
long, the demands for aggressive
action. In significant editorial /.
The Washington Post. generally re-
garded as the administration organ.
demands the immediate dispatch of
a punitive force if the negotiations
fail.
Demand Captives.
This editorial, headed "Captives
Alive Or Bandits Dead" SAYS;
If there is still time left in which
to rescue the captives, 1t seems that
the powers ought to go swiftly to
the business. They should agree to
the terms demanded by the bandits.
inasmuch as there is no present al
tentative. But they should also warn
the bandits that the murder of the
captives will be followed by the pur-
suit. capture and summary execu-
ton of all the bandits, A punitive
force should be organized without
delay. to undertake the pursuit in
case the negotiations fail and the
captives are slain.
This punitive force should consist
solely of foreign troops. with every
power represented whose nationals
were captured by the brigands. The
orders should be simply 'overtake
and kill. There should be no false
computations In this case. 1t would
be mistake to bring back prisoners.
to be objects of pity by mushy senti-
mentalists who might possibly slip
them through the meshes OF the law.
O o o
TrffIe With Lives.
This is not the time to trifle with
the lives of Americans by kowtowinS
to the shadow of government at
Pekin. The clear note.of the Ameri-
can eagle should be heard at this
time-the scream of the mother bird
whose young are in jeopardy. This
note will be heard by the bandits,
and If anything will stay their
bloody hands it will be the knowl-
Continued on Page TwO)