793.94/11721: Telegram

The Consul at Tsingtao (Sokobin) to the Secretary of State

1.
In Tsingtao itself nothing of special interest has occurred since this morning other than the appearance of several Japanese planes flying at no great height but which were not fired upon by the Chinese.
2.
Vice Consul Hawthorne and myself made a tour of the cotton mill district without any molestation. The mills have been completely destroyed. We witnessed an enormous exodus of Chinese on foot but observed no unusual military activity. The Huahsin mill which was transferred to an American corporation last week was not damaged in any way.
3.
The Mayor is still in Tsingtao. Curfew will again be observed from 10 p.m. until 6 o’clock Monday morning.
4.
In statement appearing in local Chinese newspaper dealing with last night’s destruction of mills, the Mayor referred to “encirclement of Tsingtao and adjacent districts by the enemy, its inclusion within a military zone being compelled by the direct threat from that encirclement.” He “had long ago determined that not an inch of territory would be conceded lightly to anybody.” He would guard the territory and repel the enemy. In other words he would defend Tsingtao against any attack.
5.
Everything quiet in Tsinanfu with continued movement of troops southward and frequent visits by Japanese planes for observation purposes only.

Repeated to Hankow and Peiping.

Sokobin