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the information given in enclosure No. 6 hereto, there was no fear of a military attack on Shamsan or from Boca Tigris as military including sadets did not consider their strength sufficient.
Statements have been made by military leaders in Canton that attacks by the Chinese on Shumeen and Kowloon assisted by Russian aviators are pending, and these have apparently caused agitation in official circles in Peking, who were anxious that reports should be confirmed. Ko immediate danger is anticipated however and air attacks are considered in the highest degree
improbable.
The Consul General nevertheless reported that labourers and peasants were being armed and drilled.
19.
SHATOL. Conditions at Swatow at one stag appeared to
be assuming a critical state. A copy of an unfinished report from the Commanding Officer, H.M.S."ELDZFELL" which was hurriedly despatche
ed is enclosed.
There is no doubt that the chief source of danger at Swatow is the divided military factions in the tom, who are sach distrustful of the other, and could not be relied upon in an
emergency.
The boycott is reported to have been effective, but faw demands for food from the local community have been received and it is therefore gathered that satisfactory arrangements have been made
at Swator.
ZO.
It appears that a shortage of Chinese food generally emists at Swatow, and that the strikers are being under fed, and badly accommodated. Under these conditions riots leading to
incideats are not unlikely.
21. On 15th July, H.M.S."HURBILL" reported that 8.8."KHAISANO" was negotiating to discharge six thousand bags of rice at Swatow instead of at Hongkong. As this ríos was intended
undoubtedly...
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