893.00/10872: Telegram
The Minister in China (Johnson) to the Secretary of State
402. Legation’s 396, June 2, 9 p.m., paragraph l.28
1. Following from the American Consul at Nanking:
“June 3, 5 p.m. Best information available here, partly from Bert Hall who is doing battle flying for the National forces on the Lunghai front, is as follows:
- (1)
- Reports of Northern victory at Lunghai front are untrue but heavy fighting is occurring in the neighborhood of Lanfeng in which both sides have incurred heavy losses. National army is using its best units but has thus far been unable to break enemy lines. Considerable numbers of wounded are arriving in Nanking. Chiang Kai-shek is still in neighborhood of Hsuchowfu and Kuomin News Agency admits that he has received light wound in arm from aeroplane bomb.
- (2)
- Have received reliable news of advance of rebels from Kwangtung into Hunan and reports of heavy troop movements through [Page 126] Tientsin into Shantung. I am today by mail confidentially advising all American women and children and as many men as possible in Nanking district north of Yangtze to leave that area at once for places of safety, adding that have ascertained this could be done by hastening departures on summer vacations. I advised that I could not under existing conditions recommend Ruling as a safe summer resort.”
2. I have advised Adams that the Legation approves action taken as reported in paragraph 2 of his telegram.
For the Minister:
Perkins