793.94/14129: Telegram
The Consul General at Hong Kong (Southard) to the Secretary of State
[Received October 21—7 a.m.]
Majority of information from our various and most reliable contacts in Hong Kong, excepting Chinese, indicates continued progress of Japanese in direction of Canton, including a movement flanking Chinese defences in order to reach that city also from the north. Lungmun, north of Tsengcheng, variously reported to be in Japanese hands. Japanese advance now appears to be within 25 miles of Canton. Reliably reported here that American hospital and church at Waichow unmolested and safe. I have been in touch with Shekki and have no information of congestion of American refugees there as indicated by Linnell but am at once sending representative of this office to that place to survey situation first hand. Japanese Consul General here has special soldiers to insure safety Americans in war zones and acts promptly on all my requests and recommendations. British Ambassador to China is in Hong Kong en route to Hankow via Indo-China.
Repeated to Canton, Chungking, Peiping.