Hankow, Nov. 2: The Italian Consul here has lod; aged a protest with the Japanese authoriies in connection with the arrest on November 16 of Father Pio Belli, an Italian priest who has been in China for 33 years, on the charge of "bribing Chinese to destroy buildings in the Chinese city," where fires raged recently.
¥ather Belli, who was working in the refugee zone near the Han River, is said to have been taken into custody on the accusation of unknown Chinese that the priest had been paying sums, ranging from $5 to $15, for setting fire to various houses.
The same night five Japanese soldiers are alleged to have sub-lected the priest to a kind of third degree ordeal, urging a signed confession.
This, however, Father Belli is reported to have emphatically fused, denying the accusation and disclaiming all knowledge of his accuser.
On November 17, the priest is stated to have been again inter-togated, with his hands tied behind his back.
The Italian Vice-Consul made representations to the Japanese thorities, requesting that Father Belli be permitted to return to his residence. Subsequent intervene tion by responsible Japanese military authorities i said to have resulted in his release, The priest is at present resting in hospital.—Reuter,
Text read from the printed page and cleaned; old type leaves the occasional error.