Foreign Relations of the United States Diplomatic Papers, 1938, The Far East, Volume III

793.94/13028: Telegram

The Consul at Canton (Fletcher) to the Secretary of State

Canton, May 13, 1938—5 p.m.
[Received May 16—7 a.m.]

Reported number of Chinese planes arriving Canton on 10th is 70 including 12 Russian bombers, 32 Russian pursuits and 17 Siberian Russian pilots. In organizing two raids on Japanese on 11th one Japanese destroyer set on fire, one Japanese plane shot down, fuel tanks on Japanese occupied island airfield set on fire. No Chinese planes lost. Most Chinese planes left Canton early on 12th to avoid danger to city from aerial combats.

Canton airfield bombed on night of 11th without damage. Both Canton airfields on 12th.

Bocca Tigris forts shelled by Japanese warships afternoon 12th without reported damage and forts not replying.

Sent to Peiping, Hankow, Shanghai.

Fletcher