793.94/11805: Telegram
The Consul General at Shanghai (Gauss) to the Secretary of State
[Received December 23—6:23 p.m.]
1219. Your 687, December 22, 7 p.m.50 In a letter dated December 17 Dr. Robert W. Brown, American medical missionary at Wuhu, reports that Japanese troops upon entering Wuhu December 10 established a ruthless reign of terror, shooting unarmed Chinese civilians who had nothing of which they could be robbed or because they did not produce their women on demand. He states “the Japanese have not hesitated to invade foreign property flying the American flag and with Japanese posters on the gate forbidding them to enter. On the 13th they pulled down the American flag from a junk belonging to this hospital and threw it in the river. Governor rescued the flag and took it to two Japanese Commanders. They expressed regrets. About the same day they broke into our Methodist Mission School and ordered the caretaker to haul down the American flag, then disregarding a Japanese military poster forbidding them to enter, went in and searched the building and blasted open the school safe. They have treated the British flag and property in a similar way. So far there has been no attack or injury to foreign nationals. I have contacted the Japanese military authorities and they have assured me they do not allow their soldiers to do these things. A Japanese Consul arrived yesterday—we hope he may do something to help restore order and give protection.”
- 2.
- A letter from another American missionary also dated December 17 just received states that Japanese soldiers entering Wuhu were guilty of depredations but it does not paint the lurid picture given by Doctor Brown. He says that practically all of the population have fled with the exception of about 2,000 refugees in mission compounds. A large part of the city has been burned and was thoroughly looted “both before and after the occupation”; that certain mission property was entered on 2 nights by Japanese looking for women and jewelry; they found neither and little was taken away. A drunken soldier brandished his sword at an American woman missionary who was trying to protect the Chinese gateman but in the face of her courage he desisted and no harm was done. “This rough lot of soldiers cleared out of the city this morning and the first lot of military police have arrived and so I hope the worst of our troubles are over. I called on the Japanese Consul and the commanding officer of the Japanese forces this afternoon and reported the depredations—they expressed regret and promised protection.”
- 3.
- Apparently the Japanese soldiers involved what [were?] those of Colonel Hashimoto though his name is not mentioned in either letter.
- 4.
- I have brought the reports to the attention of Japanese Consul General, protecting their source, and asked for immediate investigation, for protection for Americans and their property, and proper respect for the American flag. I am sending copy of information to Commander-in-Chief to ask that commanding officer U. S. S. Oahu investigate reports if his ship visits Wuhu in the near future.
Sent to the Department. Repeated to Hankow for information.
- Not printed.↩