Daily Kennebec journal. [microfilm reel] (Augusta, Me.) 1870-1975, 1923-05-25
Stronghold in Hills Surrounded
and All Lines Communication
Cut Off---Seek Isolation Band
Holding Foreign Prisoners
Brigands Discouraged Over Re-
fusal Diplomats to Deal With
Them

Tsao Chwang, May Is (By A. P)
Gun fire heard near here today is
taken to indicate that government
troops are engaging the bandits in
the hills, or the bandits are fighting
among themselves as a result of q
disagreement at their conference
which was scheduled for today. It
was learned today from different
sources that the brigands have taken
their captives from Paotzuku noun
tain and have moved them two miles
further back into the hills.
The sudden retirement appears to
indicate that the troops, actingu m.
Ger orders from TsaO Kun, inspector,
general of Shantung, are following
the plan advocated by the Tuchun of,
the province to dig the bandits OUT,
Shankhai, May "a (By A. Pr,
Panic seized the bandits of Paotzu-
ku today as Chinese government
troops launched a determined ad-
vance against the outlaws in an ef-,
fort to break up their communica- :,
tons and force an issue in the in.
tci pIODIeiH
the kidnapping of foreigners from
the Shankhai-P Picking express May g.
The Picking governments plan to
release the captives by force ap-
parently is to be put into operation.
at once. I.
The Gordon Of troops about the
stronghold today was frightened in
all directions. Messengers travelling
to and from the outlaw hill retreat
have been stopped. Troops are en-,
gagged in breaking up all the bandits
lines of communications in an effort
to isolate the band that is holding
the foreigners.
Chiefs of the brigands are said TO
be greatly discouraged at the re-
fusal of the diplomatic corps at Pc
king to deal with them and are re-
ported to be anxious to come to
some sort of terms before it is too
late to save their own lives.
Fresh parleys are expected to be
opened Immediately with the Chin
csc government representatives.
bandit envoy. accompanied by
one of the captives as. mediator is
said to have left Paotzuku to reopen
negotiations, but so far they have
not arrived at Tsao Chwang. Lead
ers of the gentry in all the surround
ing villages have urged the outlaws
to settle with the Peking govern
ment as quickly as possible.
These local leaders have pointed
out to the brigands that the thrush
of government troops will prevent
completion of the harvest and thus
bring ruin to the entire territory in
which the outlaws have operated
and on which they must depend for
living.
Picking, May "a (By A. P.)-Brig-
adler Genera, William d. Connor.
commander of the American troops
stationed at Tientsin will head the
international commission which will
proceed Immediately to Tsaochwang
to investigate the bandit situation, 1t
was announced here today.
The commission, which will be
composed entirely OF military men,
will include the commanding officers
OF each foreign detachment stationed
at Tientsin and the army or navy
attaches of those legations at Picking
whose nations have no troops in
China, but whose nationals are
among the captives held by the
brigands on Paotzuku mountain.
The Japanese government hcs been
,. invited to name a representative
and has accepted. ~