No Confirmation of Report But No Reason to Doubt it Peking, May 20, The American Consul at Yunnanfu has telegraphed to Peking state ing that, according to a report received from a foreigner residing at Laitoupo, bandits, on May 17, tured Captain T. J. Betts, an American language officer, who has been touring the provinces for the purpose of learting the language.
Captain Betts belongs to the! American Coast Artillery and is well known in Peking, where his wife and mother reside.
The report is not otherwise confirmed but there is no reason to doubt its accuracy The capture is said to have been effected in the neighbourhood of Laitoupo.
Tt appears that Captain Betts left here in March on a mission he voluntarily undertook for the Famine Relief Commission in connexion withthe organization of a new committee at Yunnanfa.
May 1 he telegraphed to. Peking} stating he had completed his task Jand intended going overland to Chungkirg, where he expected to arrive on June 7, instead of returning to Hanoi by rail.
been received' from him since.
His splendid physique made Captain Betts a conspicuous figure in Peking, where his mother, -wit and two children are at present residing. He was born at Newchwang and speaks Chinese unusually well.—Reuter.
Text read from the printed page and cleaned; old type leaves the occasional error.