June In a postscript to his letter of June 2 which we publish to-day, our Nanchang correspondent "A letter has just come from Mr. and Mrs, Porteous, in Chinese, stating that they are suffering terribly from heat, poor food, dysentery and vermin, and urging thet whatever is to be done be: done quickly."
A more piteous appeal could not be imagined, Mr, and Mrs Porteous, who are British sub-
Jects, were taken captive at Yuanchow, together with Miss Gemmell, an American, on March 23, two and a half months ago. Miss Gemmell was released in the middle of April, reaching Hankow on the 16th: she was described as a nervous wreck although she is quite young. Mr. and Mrs, Porteous came to China as far back as 1894 and 1901 respectively: for people of their age the effects of such captivity, for so many weeks, is almost unimaginable. It is said that Miss Gemmell was released in order that she might persuade the ELM. to pay the $60,000) ransom demanded for Mr, and Ars. Porteous. But it has been the steady policy of all Missions to refuse to pay ransoms, on the ground that this simply' puts a premium on the kidnapping of other workers, But other measures there are which could and surely should be taken, Writing, on April 1, on the capture of Mr. and Bre. Porteous and Miss Gemmell and the many other like outrages of the past twelve months we said:
"tt is_surely time that the Western Governments should take oficial notice of the intolerable conditions prevailing in Chin We are not advocating the use gunboats or of force in any form. But it may well be felt th formal intimation should jointly be addressed by the Powers to the Chinese Foreign Office, not privately but with the fullest posible publicity, that they can hold he further discussion of alteration Of treaties or of matters near to the Nationalist, heart, until. Teaders of the Chinese in all proces agree to drop their quarrels ud combine to restore peace and order in this tormented land".
Since that was written Nanking has become involved in the most serious struggle for its
Text read from the printed page and cleaned; old type leaves the occasional error.