793.94/2461: Telegram
The Minister in China (Johnson) to the Secretary of State
[Received November 4—2:05 a.m.]
867. 1. Following from Consul General at Harbin:
“November 3, 5 p.m. (1) I returned early this morning from Tsitsihar, where I spent November 1st and 2nd, interviewing Chinese officials, Japanese Consul, American missionaries and Russians and inspecting Taonanfu-Angangki Railway bridges near the Nonni destroyed by Tsitsihar troops.
(2) There is but little doubt that General Chang Hai-peng of Taonanfu, either instigated or forced by the Japanese military, who aided him with advice and supplies, started his cavalry force of about 5,000 on the way north toward Tsitsihar on October 15th. General Hsieh Ke, Chief of Staff to Chairman Wan Fu-lin, who was and is in Peiping, ordered most of the Tsitsihar troops to retreat eastward along the Tsiko Railway49 and the destruction of smaller bridges approaching both sides of the main bridge across the Nonni and a span of the latter. Wan Fu-lin directed that General Ma Chan-shan, garrison commander at Taheiho, proceed to Tsitsihar, take command as Acting Chairman and resist Chang’s approach. Ma arrived at Tsitsihar October 19th. Without fighting, Chang’s troops began to retreat toward Taonan but a portion of them returned to Tailai and to the bridge over the Nonni; Chang’s and Ma’s troops are now facing each other with this bridge between them.”
2. Following from Consul General at Mukden November 3, 6 p.m., on the same subject:
“Yesterday Honjo issued an ultimatum to Chinese Government [authorities?] at Tsitsihar and Taonan each to withdraw 10 kilometres [Page 364] from the Nonni River to prevent interference with Japanese repair gangs who start work under protection of Japanese forces tomorrow on destroyed railway bridges. Taonan troops believed to be at Tailai.”
- Tsitsihar-Koshan Railway.↩