News has just been received from Rev. F. S. Joyce thab the two O. I. M.'ladies, who have been in the Hands of Fan Hsinming and his band of brigands for tha-past five weeks, have been released and are on their way to Juchow. Mr. Joyce wired as follows from the city of Kiahsien at ten o'clock on Monday morning: "Captive ladies released, being escorted Juchow. This message was received in Kaifeng at 2 p.m.
Inquiries from the Chief-of-staff in the Tuli's yamen elicited the information that the Magistrate at Lushan had sent a similar official message to headquarters. The further information was gained that the release seems to have been the result of the military operations carried through—by orders of Marshal Wu Pei-fu.
It comes as a great surprise to us all at this time for there have been very grave doubts expressed all along of the eflicieney of such operations m that mountainous district. Mr. Joyce from the very first was assured, that nothing but the acceptance "of the terms offered' by the brigand chief, namely enrollment in the provincial army, would effect the desired' end. He advised—submitting to these terms. Needless tosay this advice was rather the counsel of despair than of measured judgment. 7 The Tuli of Honan was rather inclined to yield in a measure to such counsel and feeling his way along by making—tentative offers to Fan Hsin-minz, Mr. Joyce was empowered to offer him the' ransom that would have. been given to any one effecting the release of the ladies, and a full pardon for the crimes committed against society in this province. Mr. Joyce had a long conference with the leaders of the brigands, but had the mortification to have these terms summarily rejected, though he felt sure that Fan would not then have insisted on the full demands that he had made at first. Evidently on the conclusions of that meeting Fan determined to move farther afield, and went some 60: li southwest into the mountains.
Text read from the printed page and cleaned; old type leaves the occasional error.