893.00/7139: Telegram
The Minister in China (MacMurray) to the Secretary of State
[Received March 3—9:37 a.m.]
108. My 81, February 18, 7 p.m. New civil war is now in full swing. Ostensible issue one between radical and antiradical forces. Former are so-called National Armies and now control Government and Tientsin and are supported by Government in Canton and Soviets; latter are allied forces of Wu Pei-fu and Chang Tso-lin and possibly Sun Ch’uan-fang. Forces of Wu now pressing attack along Peking-Hankow Railway, travel on which to points south of Chengchow now closed. Forces of Chang Tso-lin in Shantung attacking Tientsin from south and invading Honan from east. Railroad travel south of Tientsin and from Tientsin on Peking-Mukden Railroad closed. Peking-Tientsin rail communication in immediate danger of being closed. Probability of heavy fighting with further destruction of railroad, financial straits and weakness of Government, and general disorder throughout country make possibilities of situation extremely grave. Respectfully request repetition to Navy and War Departments. Repeated to Tokyo.