CO129-437 - Public Offices - 1916 — Page 505

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505

45 bango 1

LATRES

supral al mareş alı

1.

becoming more precarious, and in spite of the so-arlled truge bis enemies are closing in upon him from all vidas, In'an's troopes, which were in occupation of Samthui, kave recently wivanced and seized Fatahan about ten miles from Canton.

othare have occupied Kongómmon to the south, Li Linh-chun is advancing from the North, and the Canton- Howlown Railway has been cut by roblere acting in con- cert with Caneral Ho's troope fram teichow to the last.

Under these oirowetancos I had the honour to address to Your Lordship on the 44th instant my telegram Ho. 223, #uggerting that the decision conveyed to me in Your Lordship's telegram be, 126 of the 11th instant

•hould be reconsidered to the extent of authorising the despatch of british troops from Hongkong to thaween purely for the dfence of the concession, *ince ia view of the existing vater communication there was very little danger of their being cut off and their presence on ..he- meen for the protection of the British concession could hardly be regarded su in any my constituting interven- tion.

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I have the honour to transmit herewith copy of a despatch from F'is -ajesty's Consul Cenersi at Conton covering a letter to the General officer Commanding at Hongkong on the subject of the defence of shameen. In this letter, which was written after he had received from == Your Lordship's telegram No. 122 of the 4th instant sod before the receipt of Your Lordship'e telagana 10. 126 of the 11th, r. Jamieson points out that the pre- sence of British troops on the island would be in the nature of an insurance against the possibility of any

attack