1939 - Maj.Gen. Morris A. "Two Gun" Cohen photographed leaving the Bank of China building in Singapore on 19 may 1939

Extracts from the Press selected by Michael Alderton (essarem):

“Singapore. Kuomintang Adviser Here. Gen. Cohen Arrives From Hong Kong. General Morris Abraham Cohen, advisor to the Chinese Government and famous as the bodyguard of the late Dr Sun Yat Sen is in Singapore. Gen. Cohen at one time held the rank of General in the Chinese 19^th Army. Born in the East End of London, he rose to be one of the most powerful men behind the Chinese Nationalist Government. ‘Japan Is Doomed,’ says Gen. Cohen, a Britisher who is attached to the Kuomintang in an advisory capacity, and who is in close touch with the present leaders of China. ‘It is no secret among the Japanese in the know,’ the General continued, ‘that their adventure in China is doomed to failure, for the spirit of the Chinese is very great indeed. Yes, Japan may win many battles now and for a period to come, but she must lose the war in the long run.’ In reply to questions on the financial, political and military situation in China today, the General remarked that, ‘financially China was in a very healthy position, and that their financial standing and capabilities of repayment were considered so favourably by Britain and America as to enable them to secure huge loans from these two countries. In China today there is but one objective – the defence of the country.’ Gen. Cohen is on a short visit to Singapore and will return to Hong Kong on the Ranpura.”

Michael Alderton (essarem) notes: Within 50 miles of entering Hong Kong harbour, the P & O vessel Ranpura was halted by a Japanese naval destroyer and forcibly boarded. The Ranpura made a call for aid. Within 30 minutes the British destroyer H.M.S Duchess arrived on the scene and the Japanese boarding party withdrew to their ship and sailed off. The incident had occurred following the announcement by a Japanese naval spokesman in Shanghai that a blockade extending for 200 miles along the China coast had been unilaterally declared with the object of preventing the delivery of military supplies to China.

Extracts from Maj.Gen. G.E. Grimsdale’s memoir while serving as G.S.O. 1 (Intelligence) at Hong Kong Army Headquarters: “During May 1939 I paid a short visit to Singapore to get into personal touch with the various intelligence organisations there. I returned in the P. & O. Ranpura. Shortly before entering Hong Kong harbour, I was roused by the steward and told that we had been stopped by a Japanese warship. A small motor boat was approaching containing Japanese sailors. I stood leaning over the rail talking to one of our ‘contacts’, a well-known character called ‘2-gun’ Cohen. For many years he had been supplying advice, arms and intelligence to various Chinese military commanders and civil officials. He was amusing to talk to and liked by everyone, except the Japanese. They hated him, he had too many remarkable sources of information about them; much of his information he was quite willing to pass on to me. Jokingly I said to him, ‘I expect it’s you they are after.’ He immediately bolted down below. Perhaps he was not altogether unwise, since the Japanese would unquestionably have liked to get their hands on him”

Extracts from the Press selected by Michael Alderton (essarem):

“May 24, 1939. Hong Kong. British Vessel is Boarded by Japanese Force. Ship Calls For Aid After Forcible Boarding. The Hong Kong correspondent of The Times points out that a passenger in the Ranpura, Gen. Morris (Two Gun) Cohen, London-born adviser to high Chinese leaders, may have attracted Japanese attention.”

“June 16, 1939. San Francisco. Japanese After ‘Two-Gun’ Cohen. Stop British Liner In Search for Jew. The London Times recently hinted that the Japanese cruiser which created an international incident by halting the P. and O. liner Ranpura was after our old pal General Morris ‘Two Gun’ Cohen, who was aboard the ship returning from Singapore where he had been on an important secret mission for the Chinese government. The ship sent out an SOS which brought a British destroyer and plane to the scene, and the ship was able to proceed to port without further incident. Dr P. C. Chang, trusted emissary of Chinese Generalissimo Chiang Kai Shek to the United States, queried as to whether it was true that the Japanese stoppage of the British P. & O. liner was because of their search for General Moishe Cohen, Jewish soldier-of-fortune serving with Chiang Kai Shek, Dr Chang took refuge in Oriental obscurity. ‘General Cohen is in China,’ he said. ‘No doubt the Japanese would like to catch him—but where he is and what he is doing—l don’t know!’”

Michael Alderton (essarem) further adds: Some twelve months earlier, while Major General Morris A. Cohen, Counsellor of the Guangdong Provincial Government, was on a flying visit to the United Kingdom, a newspaper had reported: “Nobody took much notice when a solid, stern-jawed man boarded an airplane at London’s Croydon Aerodrome recently. Only a few officials knew that he was a man the Japanese would like to see dead – Gen. Morris Cohen, China’s big munitions man. His few days in London were very secret. In fact, the Chinese Embassy would not admit he was there until they could add: ‘But he went back yesterday.’ During his leave from the war zone he visited a number of European capitals as well as London, buying what he claims will help China, his adopted country, to beat the Japanese invaders. ‘It may take us years,’ he says, ‘but win we shall – both the war and the peace which follows.’”

A further example of General Morris Cohen being harassed by Japanese agents is provided by the British writer and newspaper reporter, Charlotte Haldane (1894 - 1969), who recalls that during August 1938: “I met General Cohen in Canton, where Madame Sun Yat-sen (宋慶齡) had come from her home in Hong Kong to meet me. Mme Sun, accompanied by General Cohen, had travelled up the Pearl River specially to welcome me to her country. The Japanese heard they were coming, and lay in wait for them. But the Japanese missed the boat – literally. They searched the boat on which they thought Mme Sun and General Cohen were travelling, but the two passengers, on whose heads the Japanese had placed an enormous price, arrived safe and sound in Canton by the next boat.”

Thanks to “IDJ” for sharing this colourful description of General Cohen setting sail from Hong Kong for Singapore: Morris A. Cohen-fashion icon-HK Daily Press 14-05-1939 | Gwulo