The Birmingham age-herald. [volume] (Birmingham, Ala.) 1902-1950, 1923-05-14
China Agrees To Pay Sum In
Order To Obtain Release Of
Foreigners = Bandit Chief
Warns That Captives Would
Be Slain Unless Ransomed
INN UNITY DEMANDED IF
OTHERS ARE RELEASED
Brigands Believe They Are
Safe From Attack As Long
As They Hold Foreigners.
American Consul In Receipt
OF Threatening Note.

SHANGHAI, May 13.-(By ASSOC
ciated Press.)-The relense of all for
eigners held by bandits In the shan
tung hills is momentariIy expected,
according to message received mt
1c:2O this morning by Max Friedman
mt TsaOchwang from his brother.
Leon Friedman. one of the captives.
Friedman's message said that the re-
lief expedition was only about 10
miles from the place where the cap
tives were being held.
The ministry of communica-
tons received message from its
representatives. at Lincheng that the
government has notified the bandits
of its agreement to their terms The
bandits, therefore, propose to release
half the captives, holding the others
as hostages.
The American, French and italian
consuls have Jointly notified their
legations from Lincheng that they
received message from the bandit
chief, dated l a. m, May 10, stating
that if his terms were not complied
within two days every captive would
be killed.
Troops To Draw off.
The consuls added that the mes
sengers from the Peking authorities
were then with the bandits having
crossed the message on the way. AS
the terms include the drawing off 1T
the troops and the troops are not
pressing the bandits, the consuls be-
iieve the captives are not in danger.
CHINA GRANTS DEMANDS
PEKIN, May 1s.-The Chinese gov
eminent plans to grant the demands
of the Shantung bandits who
wrecked and raided the Pekin -Shang-
hal Express week ago and captured
q score Of foreigners, mostly Amer
leans.
The minister of communications If
the Chinese government left here
Sunday for Lincheng with powers to
settle with the bandits on behalf Of
the government. 1t is understood
that the government will accept the
following demands:
l. That certain sum of money,
considerably less than the $1,000. 600
which was demanded several days
ago, be paid.
>. That the government grant inn
munity tC all those involved in the
affair.
The brigands, according to word
received here Sunday. have prom
ised Roy Anderson, an American WHO
was born in China, to release half
OF the foreign captives Immediately.
The bandits informed Anderson
they had no desire to hold the pris-
oners but believed it was necessary
to keep some If them in order to
compel the Chinese government to
grant immunity.
AS long as the bandits hold the
foreigners, they believe they are i'm
mune from attacks from soldiers of
the Chinese government.
Anderson has lived in China all his
life and is said to know the Chinese
people better than they know them
selves. He entered the hills in the
southwest of Shantung several days
age to negotiate with the bandits.
The American not only has the
complete confidence of the govern
ment, but is well known by the Lead
ers of the brigands.
FEARFUL OF ATTACK
SHANGHAI, May 13.-Maj. Roland
Pinger. one of the two American
army officers held by the bandits.
urged prompt withdrawal of the
troops. in a letter which Roland Pin
ger, Jr.. his son. and Robert Allen.
Jr., the son of Major Allen, carried
with them when they were released
from the bandits stronghold
The letter says:
IF the troops are not Withdrawn
within three days we are threatened
with the worst Delay is extremely
dangerous Until we are liberated
ennplON all ufaDS n