893.00/11026: Telegram
The Consul at Hankow (Butrick) to the Secretary of State
[Received July 30—5:58 a.m.]
62. Latest news from Changsha is that:
- 1.
- About 10,000 Communists under Peng Teh-hwai who took city on July 28 are looting city and burning all public buildings.
- 2.
- They are crossing to island where they are expected to loot, burn homes of foreigners and British Consulate.
- 3.
- Their occupancy of Changsha will probably not last more than 1 week judging from their previous activity at Yochow and other places.
All Americans safely evacuated and on board naval vessels 5 miles below Changsha, except William Lingle and Allen Cameron who refused to leave. Father Baima, Italian, captured by Communists, is only foreigner known to be in their hands.
The following is an estimate in United States currency of American property in Changsha. Real Estate: Yale-in-China, 500,000; Presbyterian Church, 350,000; Seventh Day Adventists, 15,000. Stocks: National Aniline, 10,000; L. E. Gale, 30,000; Singer Sewing Machine, 2,000; Liggett and Myers, 2,000; Standard Oil Company of New York installation below Changsha and stocks, 1,500,000.
Sent to the Department and Peiping.