893.01 Manchuria/413: Telegram
The Minister in China (Johnson) to the Secretary of State
[Received August 30—5:05 a.m.]
1028. Following from American Consul General at Mukden:
“August 29, 7 p.m. Armed with swords, rifles, and machine rifles and presumably inspired chiefly by the determination to destroy Japanese airships, about 1,000 big swords bandits last night attacked the Mukden area from three directions. Fighting commenced at 11:25 with an assault on the south gate of the Chinese city by a force of 500 men which entered the city and was not driven out until 4 a.m. Meanwhile a second group of 200 raided the eastern airfield and burned one hangar and about 15 old planes. Shortly afterwards a third force of 300 raided the north outskirts of the Chinese city.
All three bands escaped successfully under cover of extreme darkness. Japanese official quarters consider further attacks on the city not improbable but state that defense forces are adequate. They report that a considerable number of Manchukuo police, having refused to fight and supplied ammunition to the bandits, had to be disarmed.
Japanese casualties reported by headquarters spokesman were 2 killed and 8 wounded.”