793.94/14137: Telegram
The Consul General at Canton (Linnell) to the Secretary of State
[Received October 22—7 a.m.]
2. American observers report looting by Chinese in Canton last night and today. Destruction of utilities by the Chinese continues and last night Wongsha, the Canton terminal of the Canton–Hankow Railway, was burned with many of the buildings in the vicinity. Much of the defense apparatus, anti-aircraft guns, et cetera, have been taken out of the city by the retiring local forces and no guns are being [Page 330] fired at the Japanese planes which are flying over the city observing and dropping leaflets, two of which are addressed to Commander-in-Chief Yu Han Mou, Governor Wu Te Chen and Mayor Tseng Yang Fu, one stating that the Japanese forces have complete command of the air and the eastern part of Kwangtung and urging these three as men of talents to cooperate with the Japanese to establish eternal peace in East Asia and save the people of Kwangtung from terrible sufferings. The second pamphlet says that Canton now being enveloped by a powerful Japanese Army, the entire city of Canton will be converted into scorched land within a couple of days by which time the political and economic development as well as the public buildings and frontier will with certainty be destroyed and asks, why do you gentlemen do nothing to save the innocent people.