893.00/13078: Telegram
The Minister in China (Johnson) to the Secretary of State
[Received May 10—5:45 a.m.]
190. Legation’s 188, May 9, noon. Following telegram has been received from the Consul General at Hankow.
“May 7, 4 p.m. Americans from Yochow have all reached Hankow. They left Yochow chiefly on advice of their Chinese church members as it was feared railway might later be interrupted. Reds said to consist of a number of bands formerly operating in mountainous region along Hunan-Kiangsi border who have apparently united and are now concentrated at a point 140 li southeast of Yochow. Object of concentration not known but may attempt to take Yochow and later skirt Tungting Lake and unite with Ho Lung forces. No regular troops in Yochow; have only 1000 militia. Chang Hsueh Liang3 yesterday went to Puchi on Canton-Hankow Railway near Hunan border and it is reported he has ordered one brigade of 105th Division to Yochow district.”
- Deputy Commander in Chief, Honan-Hupeh-Anhwei Bandit Suppression Forces.↩