893.00/11035: Telegram
The Minister in China (Johnson) to the Secretary of State
[Received August 1—9:35 a.m.]
647. Legation’s 540 [640], July 31, 4 p.m. Following from American Consul at Hankow:
“July 30, 1 p.m. Americans arriving from Changsha report fall of city due to the defeat of Ho Chien’s troops about 2 miles outside city, defection of some troops within city and retreat of others. Advent of vanguard of Peng’s men was apparently well prepared by Communists working secretly within city. Latest information is that Changsha is still burning. Standard Oil Company installation intact. Looting and destruction apparently systematic. Some American mission property is known to have been destroyed.
British Consul [and] Colonel Tan called on me this morning. It is apparent that military headquarters here is entirely ignorant of Changsha debacle and somewhat at loss to account for it. He informed me that Wuhan is garrisoned by 6 regiments (6,000 soldiers) and that as long as General Ho Ying-chin remained here he considered it safe. He stated he would inform me if General Ho were to leave. Such information would probably not be available time enough to obtain American naval reenforcements for Hankow. Traffic on Kinhan Railway now interrupted. Line is being sporadically damaged by bandits so that Hankow cannot depend on troops being withdrawn from front to meet any local emergency.”
Commander in Chief informed.