893.00/11394: Telegram
The Consul General at Hankow (Lockhart) to the Secretary of State
[Received April 6—9:55 a.m.]
32. The following telegram has been sent to the Legation:
“April 6, 3 p.m. Steamship Iling of Yangtze Rapid Steamship Company was heavily fired upon from both banks river at mileage 60 above Ichang yesterday. Ship was struck many times and one member of Chinese crew badly wounded. This attack tends to confirm recent rumors that Ho Lung’s bandit forces have been driven [Page 953] to the upper river from northwest Hunan. These forces are probably responsible for the attack on Ring.
Unconfirmed reports are current in Hankow that some fighting took place in Szechuan last week between the Liu Hsiang and Teng Shih-an factions.
Repeated to the Department.”