793.94/6141: Telegram
The Consul General at Tientsin (Lockhart) to the Secretary of State
[Received April 7—9:30 a.m.]
Three trains of Chinese troops moved eastward through Tientsin yesterday afternoon.
Officer in charge Fifteenth United States Infantry detachment Chinwangtao reports fighting north of camp between Chinese forces and Manchukuo troops consisting of Koreans, Chinese and Japanese wearing divisional uniform as Chinese with white band left sleeve. Also reports brisk fighting village about 3 miles north of camp, some stray but spent bullets falling around soldiers club Chinwangtao. He further reports no troops (presumably no Chinese troops) at Haiyang and that two battalions Chinese troops have left Chinwangtao for Peitaiho, only one platoon now remaining Chinwangtao.
Although area above mentioned is in territory under the jurisdiction of General Nakamura, so far as Japanese troops are concerned, with headquarters at Tientsin, it is understood that officers and men of this command are not concerned with operations which are apparently being carried out by troops from behind the Wall many of whom belong to Manchukuo army and some of whom may embrace former Chinese officials and volunteers who are said to have gone over to Manchukuo during Jehol campaign. Present operations variously supported by Japanese air forces.