793.94/14164: Telegram
The Consul General at Canton (Linnell) to the Secretary of State
[Received October 25—6 a.m.]
12. Fires are still burning. Business section almost completely destroyed by fire and looted. Customs house was saved by work of customs staff, British naval units and others. Canton Hospital still intact but unoccupied. Fire has not gone very near Hackett Memorial Hospital and conditions there good. Buildings on bund from near French bridge almost to British bridge gutted by fire, precautions being taken continuously to prevent fire crossing to Shameen. Unless an unfavorable wind should spring up it is believed Shameen is safe.
Conditions in Tungshan reported quiet and men in Baptist Hospital and Seventh Day Adventist Hospital safe, nearly 600 Chinese refugees at Fingnam. Conditions there and at Pakhoktung reported good. Only a few Japanese soldiers have been seen in Canton as yet.
Repeated to Chungking, Peiping and Hong Kong.