London, Oct. 2, An inner circle of friends of the China Inland Mission here are pray-Ing constantly for the safety and early release of the two missionaries, Mr, Rudolf Bosshardt, of Manchester, and his Australian colleague, Mr. A: Hayman, who have been in the hands of Chinese bandits for more than 0 is principally for the infor~ ation of this circle that cables are mut. periodically from Shanghai to the mission headquarters in London, The lest cable said:—"Situation is very critical."
"A China Inland Mission secretary old Reuter that this news probably wuss the result of the latest attempt by Mr. H. Becker, a plucky German missionary, who is doing all he can to secure the release of Mr. Bosshardt and Mr. Hayman, and to get im touch with the bandits through Chinese Christian messengers.
'Some months ago, Mr. Becker left his own' mission station, which was wen days? journey' from the Hunan mountains, in the fastnesses of which the bandits have established them-snd went to stay in the near-fest town. From there, he sent out messengers to negotiate with Ho Lung, in where hands the captives are held, When, last February, three messengers were allowed to see the prisoners and to deliver letters from their wives, they brought back a letter sealed with the seal of the "Soviet Government of China," which the missionaries had "been compelled to enclose a demand for fanti-aircraft guns, wireless, med-
Tomes, ete.
'A later demand for a huge ransom was accompanied by a threat to kill the missionaries if it were not paid by May 9. The threat was not carried out, It is stated that there may hot be further news until other mes-Jsengers have had time to get in touch with the bandits and return to Mr.
Becker.—Reuter
Text read from the printed page and cleaned; old type leaves the occasional error.