Tuesday 30th July -
South Wales Echo and Evening Express (late edition):
Welshman Lone Prisoner with Bandits
Mr
Gareth Jones is still in the hands of Chinese bandits, but Dr Müller, his
companion, has been released. The
doctor, who arrived at Pao Ch'ang today, telephoned a brief message to Kalgan
confirming the news … The mystery of why Dr Müller was released alone and Mr
Gareth Jones kept in captivity is not explained.
Unconfirmed reports stated
that Dr Müller was set at liberty at the instance of Chang Chung-Chi, a member
of the Peace Preservation group, an ex-bandit and a friend of the bandit leader
who had captured the two men and that Dr Müller was to obtain the ransom from
the British and German Embassies on this condition.
Wednesday 31st
July – Reuters’
correspondent:
It
was revealed that Dr Müller was released on 10-day parole … it was presumed
that Gareth Jones was being kept hostage for his parole.
Thursday 1st
August -
the family received a telegram from Changkiakow (Kalgan):
“Well
treated. Expect release soon. Love Gareth.”
Friday 2nd August
- The Daily Telegraph:
On
reaching Kalgan Dr Müller told his story to the Vice-Chairman of the government
of Chahar Province. The latter
telephoned the commander of the local militia, Chang Chung-Chi in Pao Ch’ang to
keep in touch with the bandits and to endeavour to persuade them to release Mr
Jones. As inducements the Chang
Chung-chi offered to incorporate the bandits into the Chahar army and the
Chahar government would pay the ransom money demanded. The bandits were believed to be over 200
strong. The commander of the militia
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