393.1111 Stam, John C./11: Telegram

The Consul General at Nanking ( Peck ) to the Secretary of State

86. My 85, December 14, 9 a.m.

1.
Vice Consul Jenkins83 reached Wuhu December 13, 4 p.m. and returned to Nanking December 14, noon. At Wuhu he interviewed American missionaries and officers of the U. S. S. Monocacy. I have suggested that Monocacy remain at Wuhu until December 16, 8 a.m.
2.
Among other items of evidence Jenkins has brought back copy of a letter dated December 13, from the superintendent of the second administrative district of Anhwei residing at Takacheng to Birch84 of [Page 481] the China Inland Mission indicating that the superintendent had been informed by Birch orally of the capture of the Stam family and that the superintendent had telegraphed the Provincial Chairman then at Chihle in asking that rescue measures be taken. The reply from the Provincial Chairman to the superintendent dated December 11 stated that the Chairman immediately ordered troops to take every possible step towards rescue but that he had received a telegram dated December 8 before midnight stating that the “Kiangsi bandits” were defeated that noon and Miaoshou recaptured and that the bodies of Stam and his wife were found on the battlefield. The local authorities had been ordered to encoffin the bodies and take steps to find the child. The Provincial Chairman added that he was reporting the matter to Chiang Kai-shek and was issuing orders that every effort be made to rescue the infant.
3.
Jenkins also brought back copy of letter dated December 8 mailed at Tsingteh from Stam’s cook which stated that the Peace Preservation Corps and local militia attempted to defend Tsingteh from “Red bandits” who attacked the city on December 6, 10 a.m. and easily entered subsequently looting the city one day and one night. Several score of Chinese captives were carried away.
Peck
  1. Douglas Jenkins, Jr., Vice Consul at Nanking.
  2. George A. Birch, Canadian missionary at Suancheng, Anhwei.