793.94/6223: Telegram
The Consul General at Tientsin (Lockhart) to the Secretary of State
[Received April 25—6:30 a.m.]
Chinese armored train has now moved eastward to Anshan following up withdrawal of Manchukuo forces. Railway authorities report no fighting but Chinese vernacular newspapers persistently report Chinese regulars are engaging the enemy in that area killing many of them and reoccupying territory previously lost. There is reason to believe that the withdrawal is a part of the Japanese-Manchukuo [Page 290] plan to withdraw their forces to the immediate vicinity of the Wall but if the Chinese as claimed are attacking the forces now being withdrawn a reversal of the present plans of the Japanese may be shortly expected in which it is doubtful whether the invading forces would be willing to stop on the east bank of the Lwan River as they did recently. The situation east of the Lwan River is not entirely clear but the reports of fighting are believed to be propaganda to stimulate support from the south. Local Japanese military authorities have predicted severe fighting in the Miyun-Kupeikow area and announced a determination to drive the Chiang Kai-shek troops from that region whereupon Ho Ying-chin’s position will become more untenable at Peiping.