Office of the Historian

811.30 Asiatic Fleet/542: Telegram

The Commander in Chief, United States Asiatic Fleet (Yarnell), to the Chief of Naval Operations (Leahy)32

[Hankow,] August 28, 1938—2:32 p.m.
[Received 11 p.m.]

0028. Monocacy has been informed access to coal at Andersen Meyer Mill will not be permitted owing to interference military operations, CO33 Monocacy believes that mines which exploded close aboard yesterday were dragged and left in that position in the course of Jap sweeping operations. He informed Jap Consul of this opinion and that they would be held responsible any damage to his ship resulting their activities. Present anchorage best available but endeavoring arrange for mooring pontoon off west end Standard Vacuum installation to which Monocacy will secure. If this not practicable, ship may be able berth at Asiatic Petroleum Company pontoon with British craft. Monocacy captain was told that situation would be very bad for foreign men [of] war at Hankow unless they moved upriver.

  1. Copy of telegram from the Commander, United States Yangtze Patrol (Le Breton), to the Commander in Chief; transmitted to the Department by the Navy Department.↩
  2. Commanding Officer.↩