CO129-421 - Governor Sir May - 1915 [3-4] — Page 184

N? CONFIDENTIAL.

C.O

20681

FLE 3 MAY 15

180

GOVERNMENT HOUSE,

HONGKONG. 25th. larch, 1915.

sir,

19489146

With reference to my Confidential Despatch of

the 2nd. December on the subject of the detention of certain German prisoners of war, I have the honour to transmit a copy of a letter in which the Consul-General for the United States of America applied for the release of a Captain Buhrmann.

2.

This case come under my notice shortly after the commencement of hostilities in August last. Buhrmann was e- -ployed as a pilot in the Canton River steamer trade, and after careful consideration of the case he was not allowed to leave the Colony, but was not detained as a prisoner of war. When, however, in October the German residents were all either inde prisoners of war or expelled Buhrmann was detained as a Prisoner of Wor owing to his possible usefulness to the enemy as a pilot.

3.

I have consulted the General Officer Comanding and the Admiral Commanding in Chief and they both consider that his release is inadvisable. I enclose a copy of a letter from Commodore Anstruther in which he gives his reasons for arriving at the same opinion. According to a statement made by Mrs. Buhrmann at Shanghai her husband will be fifty years of age on the 15th. Day.

I have the honour to be,

Sir,

Your most obedient, humble servant,

Amag

Governor,&c...

THE RIGHT HONOURABLE

LEIS HARCOURT, L.P.,

$60..

&c.,

&C...