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Translation
Ch’uan Min Pao of 24/8/45
Chahar Provincial Government, 21st August
The Chahar Provinocia1 Government issued on
the, 21st a report in the form of a telegram on the circumstances under
which the late Mr. Jones was murdered. The report is as follows:
With reference to our previous reports Mr.
Jones and Mr. Mueller arrived in Chahar (i.e. at Kalgan) on the 11th July en
route for Inner Mongolia. The Special Delegate for Foreign Affairs, Mr. Yueh
K’ai Hsien, told them that conditions were disturbed. But they were
determined to proceed and willingly signed a bond declaring that they were
prepared to take the risk and absolving the Chinese authorities of all
responsibility and at last their passports were endorsed for a visit to Erh
Lien and Pailingmiao They were also orally given strong advice not to
proceed elsewhere. They proceeded to Pailingmiao on the 12th July. On their
way back they proceeded to Do1onor from Pangkiang on the through the
various Banners in Inner Mongolia.
On their way back from Dolonor to Changpei,
they did not take the highway and on the 28th July, when they reached Kuan
Ma Hou in Puo Ch’ang, they were kidnapped by bandits. Upon receipt of a
report, we immediately instructed the Hsien Magistrate to despatch sergeant
Chang to proceed there to effect the rescue of them. Mr. Mueller was
released on the 30th, but Mr. Jones being regarded by the bandits
as a rare treasure, they demanded a sum of $50,000 for his release, in
addition to a great quantity or arms and ammunition, to be handed over
within ten days. Mr. Mueller who arrived at Kalgan on the 31st stated orally
that he feared that the bandits would do no good to Mr. Jones. Steps
were immediately taken for his rescue. The bandits however moved constantly
in an unusual and secret way. They f1ed to Chuang Ching Tzu in Ku-yuan Hsien
on lst instant, and the Kuyuan Magistrate was immediately instructed by
telegram to do his utmost for the rescue (of Mr. Jones). The Magistrate
reported on the 3rd instant that the bandits had despatched representative
to conduct negotiations at Ming Sha T’an, and that the bandits demanded a
similar amount of money, together with arms and ammunition, as they had
demanded before. The Magistrate reported further on the 4th that the bandits
would not listen to anything less than $100,000.
The person despatched to negotiate with
the bandits saw Mr. Jones lying on the bed, thin and pale, though in good
spirits. The bandits said that it was on account of insufficient food and
drink. The Magistrate of Kuyuan therefore ordered the messenger to send
biscuits, canned goods, etc. to comfort Mr. zones. The bandits moved on the
6th instant to Shut Ch’uan Kou but no results had yet been obtained from the
negotiations. It was further reported on the 9th that the bandits wished to
be incorporated in the regular military forces before releasing the captive.
Just at the time when negotiations were going on, the bandits fled into the
territory of Pao Ch’ang Hsien. It was apparent that the bandits were
extremely cunning. The Magistrate of Pao Ch’ang and the Peace Preservation
Corps were at once instructed to have the bandits followed and steps taken
for the rescue (of Mr. Jones). Just at the time when all steps for the
rescue (of Mr. Jones) were being taken, a telegram dated 15th was received
from Chia Tzu~wen, Commander of Peace Preservation Corps of’ the 1st Area,
reporting that, according to Captain Chang Shu-t’ien’s report, the foreign
captive had been killed at the hill at the back of Ts’ao chia Fang Tzu, in
K’ang Pao Hsien, by the bandits, as reported by a cowherd, and that upon
receipt of the cowherd’ a report, soldiers were at once despatched to make a
search. (Upon their arrival at the reported place) the solders met scores or
bandits coming down the hill and fleeing southward. The soldiers caught up
with the bandits at Tung Ta Miao and killed five of them according to a
wounded bandit, the Englishman, owing to hard riding for many days and want
of sufficient food and drink could not endure the hardships and refused ride
on the plea of illness and the bandits, seeing that it was difficult to take
him further, killed him. The soldiers returned to the hill and found there
the corpse of a foreigner. They were sure that it must be the remains of the
late Mr. Jones, and therefore the remains were sent to Pao Ch’ang and
encoffined.
The Peace Preservation Corps of the 1st
Area wired for instructions as to whether the remains of the late Mr.. Jones
should be conveyed to Kalgan or not. On 18th August Mr. Chai, a staff-member
of the Chahar Provincial Government, was sent with Lieutenant Millar, to Pao
Ch’ang. According to investigations conducted jointly by Lieutenant Millar
and Mr. Chai, the cowherd called Li Hsiang, of Ts’ao Tian in Ts’ao Tao Kou,
in the vicinity of’ Ts’ao Chia Fang Tzu and Meng Chia Ying Tzu, saw at noon
on the 12th instant a band of 60 or 70 bandits arrive at Ts’ao T’an. He at
once hid himself in the grass, and suddenly heard three gunshots. The
bandits then fled south through T’ On Tao Kou. After they had gone, the
cowherd then saw that a foreigner had been killed by the bandits. At 5 p.m.
on the same day, when the Peace Preservation Units (Pao-An-Tui) passed
through the place, the cowherd reported the circumstances of the death of
the foreigner to them. Commander Chang was angry and, after appointing a
man to look after the corpse, he went to pursue the bandits towards the
south. He overtook them about 7 or 8 p.m. at Tung Ta Miao some 50
or 60 1i away from the place where Mr. Jones was killed, and after a
skirmish killed four of them and captured one severely wounded. According
to the latter, the foreigner had not been able to eat and drink for five
days and therefore could not ride, and when the band had arrived at Ts’ao
Tan in T’ou Tao Kou he would not mount and our leader then shot him, Captain
Chang sent Chou Man the village headman of Ts’ao Chia Yang Tzu, to report to
General Chia, the Pao-An-Tui Commander, at Paochang. Chou set out that
night, and arrived at Paochang at 5 p.m. on 13th August.
General Chia, on receiving the report,
sent one of his A.D.C’S,Yu Yung-ling, with Chou man on the
morning of 14th August to the place where Mr Jones had been
killed They arrived at midnight (on the 14th) and Captain Chang showed them
the body.. It was sent off to Paochang on an oxcart while it was still dark,
and arrived there at 5 p. m. on 15th August. General Chia himself viewed it
and prepared the best coffin available and other funeral trappings, and
after washing the body in spirits of wine had it encoffined, after which he
telegraphed to the Provincial Government. The versions given by individuals
of all classes concerning the course of investigations are identica1.”
‘Lieutenant Millar conveyed the coffin to Kalgan, arriving there at 6 p. m.
on 20th August. (A memorial service was held) attended by representatives of
military and administrative circles and local organs who moreover all sent
wreaths and scrolls, in token of their sympathy. On 21st August, at 7.30
a.m. Lieutenant Millar, accompanied by officials and police sent by this
Provincial Government, escorted the body to Peking.
The above is a
detailed account of the circumstances of the case which is circulated by,
telegram for general information by the Chahar Provincial Government, 21st
August.
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