CO129-489 - Governor Sir Stubbs & Sir Clementi - 1925 [8-12] — Page 168

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Canclosure 17.

Your Excellency,

172

General Ngai Bong-ping states that, at the date when the Yunnanese were defeated, there were

4,000 Whampoa cadets. 5,000 more have been enlisted

since that date, mostly from non-Cantonese strikers and Yunnanese troops. This force of good men is really formidable as they are excellently drilled

and have more arms than they require. The Russian

instructers are first class men, and General Ngai

is evidently much impressed with their great energy

and ability. There are thirty Russians in important official positions.

General Ngai thinks that any attack by

Great Britain would be most inadvisable. He of the opinion that the Hongkong Garrison and fleet could take Canton in a day, but the Russians would withdraw their forces into theinterier and would advance again as soon as Canton was handed back to the Chinese: Also the Cantonese,

who are now united in their dislike of the Russians and their mercenaries, might turn against the British. For similar reasons General Ngai is not in favour of

A

■ blockade, though he is very anxious that steps should

be taken to intercept the Russian ship which brings

down arms every month.

General Egai has hopes that there will be

a national movement to oust the Russians and the Cadets.

The Russians are arming and training an additimal 10,000 men, but even so they should not be able to stand against the hostility of 30,000,000 Cantonese.

(ad) M.FLETCHER,

Assistant Colonial Secretary.

•

1 9. 1925.