Evening star., 1923-05-10
CHINA ENDS FIGHT
AGAINST BANDITS
Negotiations for Freedom of
Captives Taken Up, That
None Be Injured in Attack.

The attack by Chinese troops on the
bandits who captured Americans and
other foreigners and wrecked the
ShanghaiPeking express train in
Shantung has been ordered stopped
by the Peking government
State Department advices today
from the American legation at Peking
said the Picking authorities had or
dered the Chinese troops to "desist
from measures against bandits" and
adopt pacific means" which would
insure the liberation Of the prisoners
without injury.
Government Aids Cnptives.
The Chinese ministry of communi-
cations was said to have sent supplies
OF food and clothing. and its agents
were attempting to distribute them
among the captives by using natives
in the districts where the bandits
have been located.
The department has just received
Information from the legation at
Peking," said a statement issued by
the State Department. ito the effect
that at an interview between the
counselor of the legation and the act
ing minister of foreign affairs on the
afternoon of May the acting min
lister of foreign affairs stated that the
ministry of communication had sent
supplies of food and clothing. which
its representatives were attempting to
send to the captives by means of the
natives of the district.
Believe Negotiations On.
TT was stated further by the act
ing minister of foreign affairs that
4 \
from measures against the bandits
and pacific means would be substi-
tuted which would insure the liberia
tion of the prisoners without injury
, to themselves. The acting minister
went on to say that while he was not
certain, nevertheless he believed that
| negotiations had begun with the
bandits.
Information has been received
from the legation in Peking which
states that a presidential mandate
which appeared May ordered an in
vestigation of this affair with a view
to Furnishing the civil and military
governors of Shantung and also sus-
pending all civil and military officials
at the scene of the outrage pending a
thorough investigation.
The French minister. on May S.
took up the matter of the holdup
with Marshal Tsao Kun. The latter
expressed great anxiety and imme-
diately sent a representative to the
scene of the atrocity."
United States Is Pleased.
An official report also was received
confirming that Mrs. Seaton and Miss
Auld. American tourists, who had
been reported on the train wrecked
by the bandits, were safe in Peking
Word that the Chinese troops would
stop firing upon the bandits was re-
ceived with a degree of qualification
by officials here. who realized that
encounters between the military and
bandit forces were likely to result
in injury to the prisoners. The pos
sibility of obtaining a release of the
improved by the substitution of
pacific means.
Previous reports have indicated
that the bandits did not hesitate to
shield themselves by placing the
These reports also said that the for
eigners faced dire consequences un-
less the troops surrounding the brig
ands were withdrawn.
Demands Release.
Minister Schurman, 1t was said in
another statement issued by the de-
partment, has abstained from making
any suggestions to the authorities
as to the means Of bringing about
liberation of the captives. but has
reiterated demands for their prompt
release. The statement reviewed at
length steps taken by Mr.. Schurman,
saying:
The department has received in
frv to-,
the effect that upon the arrival of Mr..
Schurman at Tsinanfu on Sunday
night, May 6. accompanied by Capt.
Arthur ST. Clair Smith, naval attache
at the American embassy in Peking.
the minister learned of the capture Of
Americans and other foreigners by
bandits near Lincheng, in the prov
ince of Shantung.
Fear Possible Ruse.
'Mr. Schurman Immediately tele-
graphed Marshal Tsao Kun, inspector
general of Chilli and Shantung, in
forming him Of this affair, and urg-
Ing most earnestly that he take ef-
fecttve measures for the immediate
release Of the captives.
ON May Marshal Tsao Kun re-
piled expressing great anxiety and
stating that he had telegraphed the
military and civil governors of Shan
release Of the captives Immediately
and send troops ldown there to deal
with the bandits. Mr.. Schurman re-
piled to Tsao Kun that he expected
him to press matters until the release
of the captives was secured.
"Mr. Whitman of the Asia Develop
ment Company has sent Naill and
Wiesenberg, two of his best men, to
Lincheng on a repair train on May
9Th. Most of the information has been
supplied by these two men. The BAN
dit commander, through a letter from
a captive by the name of ]. G. Powell
of the Weekly Review. promised that
the captives would be released pro-
vided that the troops were with
drawn. There is some question as to
whether or not this may be a ruse.
Minister SchurmaA haa ahatained