This gives colour io the current report that a telegram.was received in. the Ministry of Communications on the Saturday before th> incident, which lay unopened until the Monday after the hold-up.
According to rumour this itelegram was sent to both Tientsin and Peking, advising the non-despatch of the express from cither end. This story is denied by the Minis. try secretaries, Bandits Made Nervous by the Military Mission Tsaochuang,'J une 4.
The Military Commission yesterday visited the troop line, returning in the evening after a. fairly exhaustive investigation.
Several villages where troops have been—concentrated—were visited, and the general impression of the tour seems to have been satisfactory. Of course no official statement has been issued, but inform—* ally the members of the Commission have declared that the soldiers have encircled Paotzcku to the best advantage, and are "on the job."
The departure of the Commission for the soldiers' line evidently was the origin of a whole host of rumours. Yesterday there were many scare tales, the mildest of which was that the captives had been moved to the top. The bandits were said to have done this owing to the aeroplanes having flown over, and also because of the Military Commission inspecting the lines.
Another story, which at least had the bayest foundation of fact, was that there had been extensive fighting between bandits and _—troops. The "extensive fighting" story grew from one or two shots which were fired, and which were heard by the There is little doubt, however, that the Commission will speed the bandits' desire to complete the negotiations. In_a letter received yesterday Mr. Powell said the aeroplanes had panicked them, and they were also very much worried at the arrival of more guns.
The bandits will probably construc the warlike preparations, and the fact that the Military paid a visit, as implying that the foreign Powers are ready to intervene directly. There is no possibility of that actually occurring,. but the fear of it may prove beneficial.
Mr. Musso, writing to the Italian Consul (Mr. Ferrajolo), mentions that they have been without foreign food for three or four, days. This despite the fact food has been regularly sent up, and that it was thought that there was a sufficient supply in the camp. Mr. Musso said that the captives sent a deputation to the head chief, and they found: there was a whole supply in the other camp, about three miles away. The chief explained that he had not enough coolies to carry it across. Hence the captives had to live on rice.
A similar letter was received from Mr. Powell, who requested Mr. McCann -to ask the bandit chief to send it over.
The bandit express who came in last night reported that this had
Text read from the printed page and cleaned; old type leaves the occasional error.