893.00/8982: Telegram
The Consul General at Hankow (Lockhart) to the Secretary of State
[Received May 28—7:52 a.m.]
United States Ship Pigeon fired upon with machine guns and shrapnel by Southern troops while passing Chenglingki above Hankow yesterday afternoon en route to Ichang to evacuate Standard Oil Company stocks. Pigeon returned fire with machine guns and 14 rounds of shrapnel shells. Engagement lasted approximately fifteen minutes; no casualties on Pigeon although vessel struck number of times by machine-gun bullets.
Destroyer Edsall left Hankow this morning to escort United States Ship Penguin by Chenglingki late today or tomorrow.
Legation informed.