CO129-482 - Public Offices - 1923 — Page 388

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being ravaged by brigands. An Italian priest was carried

off by these bands many weeks ago and remains in captivity;!

and at the moment of writing news is to hand of further

depredations in the course of which the town of Tsaoshih

has been looted and burnt, British mission property

destroyed and the lives of the British and other foreign

missionaries endangered. The usual representations have

of course been made both here and at Fankow. Apart from

foreign interests in the interior the insecurity of the

aituation in Pupei naturally causes some uneasiness in

regard to the safety of l'arkow, and in this connection

I have the honour to attach copy of a despatch (enclosure

No. 7) received from is Majesty's Consul General at that

port on the subject of the local situation. Fortunately

the British community at ankow maintain a small but

efficient volunteer corps; and is Excellency the Commander-

in-chief, who is being kept fully informed of the situation.

will doubtless, as far as his resources permit, take the

necessary measures, in co-operation with the naval forces

DARA CON

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