Referring to rumours of the possible blowing up of buildings m Hankow, some of which are adjacent to British property, General Kuo Chan, Defence Commissioner, pointed out today that this step had not been decided upon.
A promise had already been giveh to the foreign Consuls, he declared, that they would be given twelve hours' warning of such measures.
"I am responsible for this area," General Kuo stated, "and the interests of foreigners will be respected.
"Anyone endangering the lives of foreigners will be shot."
Martial law is being enforced in the Wuhan cities as from today, while the river above Hankow is closed to navigation as from tomorrow. The British gunboats Peterel and'Tern are both safely this side of the boom, after recent trips up river.—Reuter.
Text read from the printed page and cleaned; old type leaves the occasional error.