893.00/13296: Telegram
The Consul General at Hankow (Josselyn) to the Secretary of State
[Received 7 p.m.]
62. Communist bandits under Ho Lung and Hsiao Ke within the past few days suddenly moved south, crossed the Li and Yuan rivers breaking through Hunan troops surrounding them with but little resistance. They have cut the motor road and interrupted telegraphic and postal communication with Yuanling. At first this was believed [Page 698] to be merely another raid for food supplies but now fairly well established that it is a definite move of their entire force from northern Hunan toward Kweichow and Kwangsi. Chinese military at Hankow have information that after passing Yuan River forces divided into two groups, one group moving west toward Chenki and Fenghwang. The other group moved farther south, passed through Anhwa and Sinhwa and on the 29th are reported to have reached Chihkiang where American missionaries are stationed. Supu and Chenki were also reported attacked on 28th and 29th.
2. Catholic mission in Hankow received yesterday a telegram from Chihkiang saying: “Reds are approaching this city. Sisters, priests all here. Evacuation impossible.” There are nine Americans in Chihkiang, two Roman Catholics and one Protestant. There are four American Catholic priests stationed at Chenki, two at Supu, and one at Lungtan; their Hankow office believes they will have withdrawn to safety before the Communists reached their stations. Miss Justine E. Granner and Miss Rose L. Fecker of Evangelical Church Mission were at Chenki on November 11, but their mission in Changsha has not heard from them since and their present whereabouts are unknown. Americans at other points are believed to be safe. I have telegraphed to the Hunan Provisional Governor an urgent request that protection be afforded Americans at threatened points in western Hunan. All Americans in that area have been warned repeatedly of the danger of their territory being invaded by this group of Communists. Repeated to the Department, Peiping, Nanking and Canton.