When at the military quarters, two long documents written in Chinese and already signed with my name, were brought to me evidently at-Kuo's instigation. These were accusing Chen of burning Mission houses and other things. I was supposed to assent to these and forward one to the Britsih Minister and one to the Foreign Office. I pointed out that it would e-absurd for a British subject_to communicate with the British Minister in Chinese.
I have since learned that when my wife and escorts went to see the commander of Chen's troops they were fired on several times by Chen's soldiers, and when finally reaching the commander's quarters were told bluntly the men in question had already been killed, which was a deliberate lie.
I am, ete., C. H. Stevens.
Fengsiang, Shen., Aug. 8.
Text read from the printed page and cleaned; old type leaves the occasional error.