No. 533.1
Nos. 142.
Sir,
Enclosure No.: 2 to Despatch No. 139 of the 10th April, 1903.
513
Colonial Secretary's Office, Hongkong, 9th March, 1902.
I am directed to transmit for your information the enclosed copy of Reports by two British Police Constables relative to a gross outrage committed on them by four sailors belonging to His Imperial German Majesty's Navy on the evening of the 1st instant.
2.
These reports have been forwarded to this Government by the Acting Captain Superintendent of Police who states that the names of the four sailors were reported to him as follows:-
1. Hermann Rennte (or Penndel)
2. Ernest Carbode
3. August Meyer
all of S.M.S. "Kaiserin Augusta".
4. Hermann Pitzner of S.M.S. "Furst Bismarck".
After they had been taken to the Police Station, the three first were allowed out on bail of $75 each, which was deposited by Lieutenant Fielke, and the fourth was bailed out for $25 by an Officer named Paul Menzel. None of the four surrendered to their bail at the Magistracy, and Warrants were, in the usual course, issued for their arrest.
I need hardly point out to you the extremely serious nature of this occurrence, and the grave view which is necessarily taken by His Excellency the Officer Administering the Government of this Colony. The assault was committed in a most dastardly manner upon Officers who were engaged in the execution of their duty, and one of the Constables was badly wounded and narrowly escaped the loss of an eye. The fact that the men did not surrender to their bail, and that no explanation of that fact was forthcoming from the Officers of the two ships concerned, considerably aggravates the gravity of the incident.
In these circumstances I am to request you to be so good as to inform this Government at your early convenience of the steps which the German Naval Authorities on this station propose to take with regard to this matter.
I have etc.,
(sgd.) J. Stewart Lockhart,
Colonial Secretary.
J. Jumprecht, Esq.,
Imperial German Consul.