CO129-504-13 Chinese situation- request from General Li Chai-sum for assistance in obtaining arms and ammunition 27-4-1927 - 6-10-1927 — Page 41

ENCLOSURE.

42

(Extract from the Man Kwok Yat Po, Canton, 28th May, 1927)

Jast shipment of arms from Germany to the rebels.

Purchase by rebel Cheung Chung Cheung.

On the outbreak of the war, the Militarist Cheung

Chung Cheung gave an order to Germany for a large supply

of arms and ammunition, and not less than 10,000 or 20,000

cases of such had been landed in Tsingtao on different

occasions. We learn that of late the Powers are of the

opinion that the supply by Germany of arms to the Chinese

Militarists, would prolong the civil war in China, and have

raised objection and proposed a restriction on the impor- tation of German arms into the country. But the German

merchants under the obligation of the contract they had

entered into, had to import a further shipment to Shantung

before the contract could be cancelled. We have ascertained

that this last supply of German arms has been shipped by the German steamer So Fi in consequence of an urgent

telegram from rebel Cheung. The supply consisted of ammunition in 4,000 cases for percussion-guns, rifles,

revolvers, hand machine guns and big cannon. Reliable

information has been received that the arms would reach

and be landed at Tsingtao on the 27th or 28th inst. via

Sam Kap Shui, and the steamer So Fi, in view of this

cargo, has to proceed to Kiao Chow first before she calls

at Shanghai.