893.00/4342: Telegram
The Minister in China (Schurman) to the Secretary of State
[Received May 8—12:58 a.m.]
207. Wu Pei-fu’s successful encircling movement at Changhsintien with 5,000 of Christian General Feng’s best troops while he kept up his front attack with the rabble untrained soldiers whom he took over from Tsao Kun not only defeated Chang Tso-lin’s forces at Changhsintien but led successively to panic, demoralization and complete collapse of Chang’s entire army which everywhere fled, sometimes in orderly retreat, sometimes in precipitate confusion and is now scurrying for shelter to Manchuria.
Up to noon 6th over 20,000 troops had passed through Tangshan. Twenty-one trains mostly very long and packed full of soldiers had passed through Tientsin. Later trains stopped before arrival at Tangshan because of congestion in Tangshan, Kaiping and Kuyeh. Under orders of Chang Tso-lin, 7,000 troops had detrained at Kuyeh; they seemed to be out of control and some deserted with their arms. All troops on the railroad appear to be half-starved; efforts are being made at Tangshan to feed them.
Not all of Chang Tso-lin’s troops are on Peking–Mukden Railway. Admiral Strauss motoring from Peking to Tientsin on 5th saw column of from 5,000 to 10,000 marching northwards and presumably others took the same route. Others remain between Machang and Tientsin. Still others sought escape by Peking-Suiyuan Railroad. Wu Pei-fu on 5th to 6th proceeded from Fengtai to Tientsin where he still was at noon today. Ten thousand Wu troops are reported to be at Chünliangcheng.
International train after short interruption traffic arrived in Peking from Tientsin evening 6th and report[ed] road undamaged and no Fengtien soldiers anywhere. Regular train left Peking this morning but had not reached Tientsin at 4 this afternoon. Morning train from Tientsin to Peking turned back.
Much apprehension in Tientsin 4th and 5th. Newspapers publish reassuring statement from consular body 6th declaring adequate [Page 700] measures had been taken by commandants various foreign detachments and by Chinese police authorities to prevent incursions into the foreign settlements including the ex-German and the Russian concessions by armed stragglers from retreating Chinese forces. Major Philoon who returned to Peking from Canton via Tientsin on international train yesterday reports crisis in Tientsin over.
Tientsin and Peking were relieved of danger of incursions of defeated soldiers, first, by Chinese and foreign military forces including police and, secondly, by complete and swift withdrawal of Chang Tso-lin’s forces in consequence of the consternation and demoralization which Wu Pei-fu’s initial victory spread amongst them. Our reinforcements were a valuable factor in the military protection especially in Tientsin. Military authorities in Peking direct 30,000 Fengtien troops and Foreign Office, declaring Chinese Government had no other funds, applied 6th to diplomatic body for release of customs revenues to feed them and send them home and diplomatic body released $300,000 for purpose.
No intimation of Wu Pei-fu’s next move. Report of cutting railroad at Lanchow without confirmation.