The Birmingham age-herald., 1923-05-08


 of the situation which. could not be the subject of detailed instructions from Washington were left in the hands of MT. Schurman for execu- ton.
 Talk Military Measures.
 One of these was understood to be the question initiating concerted military action against the bandits in cooperation with the Picking gov ernment in the event the Chinese au thorities proved impotent and no other effective way of attaining the early release of the prisoners was found.
 The council of ministers of the va rious governments represented in Picking is expected to meet tomor- row to discuss course of action.
 Acting Secretary of War Davis, after conference with Secretary Hughes, announced that the war de- partment was being informed of the up" any plan approved by the coun- cil of ministers and the state de- partment.
 Under the final protocol signed in September. 1901. by the governments which participated in the expedition. an international military force has been maintained in China for the purpose of keeping >open communica- tion between the capital (Pekn and the sea.
 Forces in China.
 In accordance with this agreement the United States has at present a force of 35 officers and SSS men sta toned at Tientsin under command of Brig. Gen. William D. Conner. off, cial government statistics show that Belgium maintains l officer and 1A men a t Peking; the British. 31 off cers and 944 men: the French, 2i officers and 1,050 men; Italy, l of fieer and 35 men; the Japanese. 59 Netherlands 1 officer and 76 men. There is also at Picking one battalion of United States marines stationed as legation guards.
 A composite military force of this nature, in the opinion of military ex- perts, would be more than sufficient to cope with the bandits in Shantung It is also pointed out that the mobili- zation of such force would have decided salutary effect upon brigands and irregular forces in China and probably would be of material as- sistance to the Peking government in solving it's difficulties and ridding the country of such disturbing ele- ments.
 Similar To Mexican Move.
 It is believed that any treaty pro- vision under which foreign troops are stationed in China would not operate to restrict any concerted military action should the Chinese central government prove incom- to cope with bandits ac- cording to the principles of Inter national laws, the government has failed to maintain the security of life and property. It was recalled that the punitive expedition into Mexico led by General Pershing in 1916 was used under circumstances at the present time. Even the re- ports from Minister Schurman, tell ing of the release by the bandits of Miss Lucy Aldrich sister-in-law of John D. Rockefeller, Jr., and the Misses McFadden and Schonberg and of the stringent orders issued by the Chinese government to Shantung au- thorities failed to relieve the tension which has been keyed high since the first reports were received.
 A paraphrase of Minister Schur- mans report which contained the list of Americans believed to have been on the train held up by the bandits was made public by the state department.
 The Chinese legation was without word from Peking today but it was a assumed that Minister SZe. who is expected to arrive here tomorrow from China, would communicate i'm with the Picking legation office to obtain information or in5 structons on which he would bast with Secretary Hughes on in China.
 The tension created by the ban dits operations developed just as the case of Charles Coltran. the American merchant shot by Chinese soldiers at Kalgan in the province of Chahar last December, was approaching ad- justment. The new situation threat ems again to complicate Chinese pose of men who have given most