New Theory to Account for the}
Disappearance of Mr. Riley Peking, Aug. 31.
Hankow correspondence up to] August 10 concerning the disappearance of Mr. F. B. Riley, the missing "Times" correspondent, shows that he left the house of an employee of the Lunghai Railway at Chengchow, early on July 23, intending to accompany Mr. Chen, the local manager of the Y.M.C.A, on a visit to a so-called Chi village} in the vicinity.
Saying that he was unwell, Mr. Chen did not go, and Mr. Riley set off, wearing a felt hat and no coat. As he had deposited his money for safekeeping, and has he bad an engagement with the Chief of Police} for 10.30 that morning, after which hho intended to return' to Hankow jon the train leaving that day at} noon, it was obvious that he expected to be back early.
Mr. Roberts, traffic manager of! the Lunghai railway says that the surrounding country was calm, the soldiers fairly well disciplined' and the people friendly to foreigners, but he thought it was unfortunate that Mr. Riley went off without pro-lething. He suggests the lity that the missing man was either overcome by the heat, or suffered from sunstroke. If} this were so, and he died, the Peasants might be afraid to report the matter, and would probably pre. for to bury him secretly.
The officials, at first, were reluctant to concern themselves in the matter, because Mr. -Riley had travelled port and without giving any the police, but when pressure was} brought to bear from headquarters, appears that they made carefull inquiries but without result.
Many searchers who were well paid were used, and promises of reward were made if they were successful, but they failed to throw any} ight on the subject, There is no apparent motive from which to suggest foul play, because! Mr. Riley was reported everywhere to be on the friendliest terms with the Nationalists, but his complete disappearance and the total absence of all information as to what has happened to him is " particularly suspicious feature of the-case,
Text read from the printed page and cleaned; old type leaves the occasional error.