84
[This Document is the Property of His Britannic Majesty's Government, and should be returned
to the Foreign Office if not required for official use.]
From CHINA,
85
Decypher. Mr. Mackillop (Hankow).
April 6th 1950.
D. Wireless.
R.
6.20 p.m.
April 7th 1958.
April 7th 193
NO.159.
Following from Military Attaché.
Begins:-
Canton-Hankow railway southern section as far as Yingtak (Yingteh) has been extensively bombed by Japanese, Damage to permanent way slight but rolling stock has suffered considerably thereby causing constant and serious delays to through traffic.
From Lokchek (Lochang) northwards to vicinity of Hankow railway appears to be running under normal conditions. According to railway official on Ambassador's train railway workshops at Wuchang were extensively damaged during recent air raid, (AS
a result of this bombing when air alarm sounds employees now
flee across the river instead of remaining in vicinity of
workshops).
TO
There is a considerable amount of rolling stock ca railway
but both engines and wagons are in very poor condition.
compete with traffic congestion crossings are in course of construction at intervals throughout the length of the railway.
Reliable Chinese military official in Canton informed me that oving to intensive Japanese air activity he was experiencing considerable difficulty in arranging safe transport of war
material from Hongkong to Canton. He added that he no longer relied on railway but had devised other means of transportation.
2