FO371-23516 — Page 109

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P.S.

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Founded

Japanese

172

Manchoukuoans

220

Police

70

2.

158

Totals

462

2.

A comparison of these figures with the totals

obtained from published individual reports of encountere

shows gross inaccuracies but there is no means of gauging

the distortion, especially thst relating to Government

casualties.

What is of interest is that the

figures give the lie direct to the Army' a repeated assertione

that the bandit problem is practically disposed of.

In February 1937 "there were only 9600 bandits still active";

of these 12,574 were killed and 4,945 taken prisoner during

that year (vide Mukden despatch No 41 of Karch 3ra 1938 to

Hi.. Ambassador, Shanghai).

In February 1938 the

Army estimated that there still remainsu 9000 bendits in

Manchuria : of these, in one Trovince alone (admittedly

the worst), 6,682 have been killed, 820 ceptured and 2,300

have returned to allegiance.

The most that can be

said is that, as areas are developed, the bandite withdrew

very slowly to the more mountainous districts.

Sanchiang Province still, however, provides a daily count oi

14 expeditions and 4 encounters, which suggests a lingering

problem of sone magnitude.

I have the honour to be,

sir.

Your Excellency's most obedient,

humble Servant,

(sd.) H. A. Graves.

Acting Conspl-General th

18th

According to an official announcement dated January the number of bandits still at large in the whole of Manchuria ie about 3,400.

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