793.94/6134: Telegram
The Consul General at Tientsin (Lockhart) to the Secretary of State
[Received April 4r—10:30 a.m.]
Reverend Kautto called this office today and stated mission property is located immediately outside Taitowying city wall and extends from southeast corner of wall, a distance of approximately 300 feet, towards east gate city wall. Just outside of mission compound north wall is a Chinese incense factory occupying rather long narrow building. On south side of mission wall are a number of small Chinese stores among them being a fruit shop. Across the street from mission compound several hundred feet away to southeast is Chinese inn. Distance from north wall mission compound to east gate city wall is approximately 600 feet.
[Page 268]Mr. Kautto said, and subsequently repeated the statement, that 30 or 40 Chinese soldiers were quartered in the incense factory immediately adjoining mission compound wall when bombing took place. This confirms statement of Japanese information bureau in second paragraph my April 1, noon,88 stating bomb which fell just outside mission compound wall barely missed incense factory building in which the Chinese soldiers were quartered.
Bomb which fell outside southeast corner mission compound was apparently aimed at Chinese inn in which there was also small detachment Chinese soldiers. It is evident bombing was directed at Chinese troops. Kautto states there was no firing by Chinese soldiers prior to bombing but that one shot was fired by them at bombing plane. Immediately after bombing Chinese vacated factory building and inn.
Kautto reported that March 28 Chinese mission worker arrived Taitowying from Shwangshantze and reported Japanese soldiers had vacated mission property there and that no Japanese soldiers were in that city when he left. Meantime Chinese reported to Kautto that mission property Mutowteng had also been vacated by Japanese soldiers. Kautto has not had opportunity to confirm these reports but believed them correct. It was reported to him that notices had been posted on Shwangshantze property by Japanese forbidding anyone enter or damage the property.
Kautto further reports that occupation Taitowying by Japanese appeared imminent. I strongly advised him to have his wife leave Taitowying immediately and come to Tientsin. He is leaving for Taitowying tonight to bring his wife here.
Artillery firing in considerable volume being heard in region of Chinwangtao to the west and northwest and also north of Changli.
- Not printed.↩