Papers Relating to the Foreign Relations of the United States, 1926, Volume I

893.00/7308: Telegram

Peking , April 12, 1926—3 p.m.
[Received April 12—8:47 a.m.]

171. My 170, April 10, 5 p.m.

1.: The situation is still undetermined. Kuominchun leaders have not received a reply from Wu Pei-fu, which lends credence to the [Page 611] report that coup d’état was executed without the prior definite conclusion of an arrangement between them and Wu, possibly as a last resort by them to force Wu into an alliance or some form of association with them.
2.: Peking remains quiet but heavy artillery and small arms fire was heard to the south for several hours during night of April 10th and early morning of 11th. Gunfire continues to be heard intermittently in that direction. A report from Tungchow states heavy firing heard to north and east.
3.: Aeroplane attack resumed yesterday morning, nine bombs being dropped resulting in injury to two Chinese, the Peking-Suiyuan Railway yard apparently being the objective. During aeroplane attack this morning more than a dozen bombs dropped. American citizen, Roy Chapman Andrews, had very narrow escape at Hsichihmen station when several bombs spattered freight car under which he had taken refuge. Five Chinese killed there, four men and one child. Casualties in other parts of city reported but not tabulated. In neither instance did planes fly over Legation Quarter (see my 166, April 7, noon).
4.: It now seems fairly certain that Tuan is in a private foreign residence in the Quarter.
5.: Please repeat to War and Navy Departments.
6.: Repeated to commander in chief, Asiatic Fleet.
7.: Copy by mail to Tokyo.

MacMurray