Peking, June 22. "The Shuntien incident is now considered closed. No protests will be made," declared a spokesman of the British Legation to-day. The Japanese authorities, while making reservations until "the safe arrival of Mr. Akio Yamamoto, the Japanese captive who was sent in a junk fo Tientsin by the pirates bear ing their demands for ransom, are inclined to follow the British this morning. He appeared tired and shabby in dusty clothes but showed no evidence of bodily fotique, he carried demands from the pirates regarding conditions the release of the Chinese captives.—Rengo.
Thanks to Government Nanking, June 24.
Mr. A. Holman, First Secretary the British Legation at Peking, under instructions from Sir Alexander Cadogan, Minister to China, to-day called at the Chinese Foreign Ofice snd expressed thanks for the Government's efforts towards effecting the rescue of the five British passengers who had been kidnapped from the s. Shuntien by pirates on June 18.—Reuter.
Gen. Han De Shanghai, June 24.
Surrounded by Government troops, the Shuntien pirates were given a last minute chance to release the nineteen Chinese passengers and to Surrender with their anns in order fo save their lives, according to a Chinese message received from Tsinan, For this reason, the final order for a general offensive against the marauders was being withheld by Gen. Han Fu-chu, Chairman of the Shantung Provincial Government. In his order to Col. Chao Ming-yuan, commander of the People's Corps at Lichin district, who is directing the campaign against the pirates on the spot, Gen, Han instructs that an op~ portunity be given the pirates for repentance before resorting to arms, fince the Chinese victims are still in their hands.
"The pirates who have already released the British passengers apparently posses the sense of right," the order says. "If they release the Chinese victims, they may be permitted to surrender their arms in order to have their lives spared."
In a telegram to Nanking report ing on the piracy, Gen. Han states that the Duccaneers have been comered. by army, naval and units, and their suppression is, therefore, imminent. According to' an intelligence report Gen. Han received, the pirates were formerly of Gen. Liu Chingenien's troops, In order ensure peace and order along the Shantung coast, additional warships have been ordered to patrol the are while the units stationed in Chefoo and other cities along the sea coa: will be strengthened, Gen, Han reports to Nanking.
Besides the two Chinese warships, Yunghsiang and Halao which are searching the Shantung seacoast, the gunboat Kiangli has been despatched by the Third Squadron to assist in the campaign against the pirates.
For his quick action in dealing with the Shuntien pirates, Gen, Chiang has highly commended Gen. Han in a telegram to Tsinan.
It is reported here that the pirates' lair is about 30 miles inland, in the Liching district.
Civilian Captives Leave Wethelwet Wethaiwel, Sune 22.
The 22,600-ton British aircraft carrier Eagle steamed into harbour to-day with Mr. Graeme D. Nicholl, and Mr. Shen"Tien-ling. Mr. Nicholl Jooked At and well but Mr. Shen, a much older man, seemed to have been badly shaken by his experiences.
Mr. George L. Brand, 2nd Officer of the s. Shuntien, and Mr. Henry MeDowall Watson, 3rd Engineer, also Messrs. Nicholl, Brand, Watson and Shen Tien-ling had luncheon to-day with Admiral Sir Frederick Dreyer, The three Britons will return to Shanghai in the steamer Tungchow to-night.
Shen Tien-ling declared that when they were examined by the pirate chief, he said Fecognized as a friend of General Han Fu-chu, whereupon he, together with Mr. Graeme D. Nicholl, was at once released in a sampan from which they both had been rescued by the aircraft-carrier Eagle—Reuter. yntlen in Shanghai Shanghai, June 22.
With thousands of spectators and a cordon of sled-helmeted French Concession police on the French Bund, the C.N, s. Shuntien made fast alons side the B. & S. pontoons at 5 pin.
Detectives, from the Shanghai Municipal Police and the French. Police were the first to go on board, in company with officials from Messrs. Butterfield & Swire, and for fifteen minutes nobody else was allowed on board, nor was anyone allowed to leave the ship. Members of the Customs River Police kept guard on board.
No arrests were made, but several witnesses were questioned. Then the passengers, with their depleted luggage, were allowed to go ashore, to be greeted by anxious relatives Sanaa © see sengers who arrived yesterday were Mrs. Learmouth. Mrs. Warren and her child, and Major Moulson, R.A. 'M.C., medical specialist of the British Army Hospital in Shanghai.
Text read from the printed page and cleaned; old type leaves the occasional error.