793.94/2698: Telegram
The Minister in China (Johnson) to the Secretary of State
941. Following from Harbin.
“November 14, 9 p.m. 1. Secretary Chao informed me at 7 p.m. today that he had received the following telegrams from General Ma, the first at 11 p.m. on the 13th, and the second at 10 a.m. on the 14th.
‘At 8 p.m. on the 13th, Major Hayashi quoted to Ma a telegram from Honjo to the effect that the third clause of his ultimatum of the 12th to Ma reading in [Page 448] part “Japanese troops should occupy Taoang Railway to Angangki” should have read “Japanese troops should occupy Taoang Railway to the main Heilungkiang Station in Tsitsihar city.” Ma replied that the latter station is a station of the Tsiko line23 and not of the Taoang line and asked if Honjo had not made a mistake in mentioning this station.’
‘At 3 p.m. on November 13th a mixed force of about 500 Japanese infantry, cavalry and artillery attacked a force of Heilungkiang troops at Tangchih and Wulinnoerh near Sanchienfang and after a struggle lasting 3 hours, owing to superior equipment, killed many and forced the remainder of the Chinese troops to fall back.’
2. I am inclined to believe authenticity of these telegrams as Chao read them to me from the original Chinese telegram.
3. Chao is certain this attack is preliminary to violent Japanese attacks tomorrow and the day after.”