893.00/13199: Telegram
The Minister in China (Johnson) to the Secretary of State
[Received August 29—2:04 p.m.]
444. Following telegram has been received from the Consul at Hankow.10
“August 28, noon. Reds are reported to be threatening Changteh and region immediately west of Tungting Lake in northern Hunan. Sibuell telegraphed yesterday that he was preparing to evacuate Changteh; other telegrams from Changteh report that the situation is serious and business is at a standstill but do not mention evacuation. Warnings have been sent to Americans in the vicinity as well as those in northwestern Hunan, and missionaries about to return to stations there have been urged to delay their departures. British Consul at Changsha reports that Tzeli and Shimen a short distance northwest of Changteh were captured by the Reds on August 27, and the authorities at Changteh are making preparations against attack.”
Consul Jarvis later telegraphed as follows:
“August 28, 1 p.m. My August 28, 1 a.m. Message from Changsha states that the British gunboat Sandpiper is proceeding to Changteh and should arrive there this evening.”
- Robert Y. Jarvis.↩