793.94/14243: Telegram
The Consul General at Canton (Linnell) to the Secretary of State
[Received October 30—7 a.m.]
32. The British Consul General at Canton has just informed me that a message from the British gunboat Robin now at Wuchow says that the Chinese are planning to place a boom at Dosing, thus blocking the river approach to Wuchow. In Wuchow the people are panicky and fear the city will be burned. They also fear the retreating Chinese Army.
The British Consul General and I have sent identic messages to our respective nationals urging the women and children and all men who can be spared to come to Canton on three river boats now at Wuchow, the voyage to Canton to be under the convoy of the Robin, if there is in fact any danger of their being bottled up at Wuchow. Those who remain do so at their own risk.
The Japanese Navy today took over control of Canton harbor including the buoy office.
Repeated to Peiping, Chungking, Hong Kong.