Foreign Relations of the United States Diplomatic Papers, 1933, The Far East, Volume III

893.01 Manchuria/954

Lieut. H. L. Boatner⁵ to the Military Attaché in China (Drysdale)⁶

[Peiping,] August 7, 1933.

1. As a result of instructions from the American Minister, I was in Manchuria from July 14th to August 1st, inclusive, in connection with the Nielsen kidnapping case.⁷ The trip afforded an opportunity to visit Dairen, Port Arthur, Mukden and Harbin, where an especial effort was made to contact American and foreign military officers, consular officials, newspaper correspondents and other civilians. In the hope that the information gained and my impressions might be of interest they are made the subject of this report.

Troops in Manchuria

Japanese.

It seems the consensus of opinion that there are about 60,000 Japanese troops in Manchuria, although everyone realizes the difficulty of obtaining accurate information. In detail they are as follows:

				Garrison area	Headquarters
14th	Division	(14,000)	(Matsuki)	C.E.R.	Harbin
10th	“	( 9,000)	(Hirose)	C.E.R.	Tsitsihar
6th	“	( 9,000)	(Sakamota)	S.M.R.	Mukden
8th	“	( 9,000)	(Nishi)	Jehol	Chengte
14th	Mixed Brig.		(Hattori)	Fengshan R.R.	Shanhaikwan
Two Cavalry “			(Mogi)	N.E. Jehol
Railway Guard Bns.		(16,000)	(Inouye)		Mukden

The Railway Guards are also now responsible for the Triangle, Tungpien and Taonan-Tungliao areas.

Manchoukuo.

The so-called Manchoukuo troops are ridiculed by Chinese and foreigners and despised by the Japanese. Never was a word heard of sympathy or condonement. They frankly admit they serve only to obtain Japanese money and intend to give no loyalty or service in return. When actually in combat the Japanese soldier fears them as much as their known enemies. Circumstances require that they be placed in the rear of the Japanese, although the latter know of numerous cases in which their brothers in arms have been treacherously shot by the Manchoukuo soldier. On the contrary relations between Manchoukuo and bandit are most friendly and brotherly. Gifts and sale of ammunition are so common that it is now a matter of regulation that empty cartridge cases must be turned in by the Manchoukuo soldier following a battle.

Bandit.

It is impossible to get accurate figures on the numbers of “bandits” in Manchuria. However, it is positive that Japanese announcements are deliberately falsified. In the same edition of controlled papers announcing that only “professional” bandits remain and they only in small parties of a few hundred, accounts will also be published of battles in which 3,000–4,000 bandits took part. The most recent official announcement of 60,000 bandits, is obviously much less than the real figure. In many cases the “bandits” fight bravely although they are inevitably defeated. It is quite obvious that the Japanese military are extremely concerned because of their failure to quell this illusive foe, who because of their knowledge of the mountains and country, having both sympathy and fear of the local peasantry, and spies within the Manchoukuo army, hover around Japanese troops attacking and disappearing with disconcerting regularity and ease. Foreign observers who have accompanied these “flying columns” of Japanese bandit suppression report them to be in a continual state of nervous excitement and capable of accomplishing nothing.

Bandit Operations

The following statistics on banditry were given out by a minor official at the Japanese Consulate at Mukden about May 1, 1933, to an American newspaper correspondent, but then was recalled and the newspaper man was told he could not use it.

District bounded by Antung, Dairen, Koupangtse, east of Tahushan line, up C.E.R. as far as Sungari, Changchun, Kirin, Tunhua, back to Antung.

Area reported by Consular police, S.M.R. zone of influence:

In 1932—total cases—		26,946
Bandit attacks recorded as follows:
By less than 10	bandits	4,064
10–	30	4,886
30–	50	3,815
50–	100	3,076
	100–	200	3,083
	300–	500	2,187
	500–	1000	1,568
1000		1,133
Uncertain		802
Conspicuous districts:
Antung		3,735
Kaiyuan		2,675
Penhsihu		2,583
Yinkow		2,416

Details—

Total number of captives taken by bandits		13,468
Civilians killed during raids		530
“  wounded “  “		399
Manchoukuo police killed		1,122
“  “  wounded		1,016
Bandit corpses left		11,614
	wounded	2,134
	captured	3,326
Engagements with	Manchoukuo troops	2,296
	Japanese police	212
	Japanese army	201
	Manchoukuo police & Man-choukuo army	134
	Japanese and Manchoukuo troops	105
	Manchoukuo police and soldiers who have been captured by bandits	557

Police figures, Mukden Consular District only, during autumn of 1932, total number of bandits—			142,000
In February 1933 after drive			22,000
Police estimates for end of May 1933:
	Tungpien area		26,000
	In area between railroad—
		I. Mukden-Kirin-Changchun	Very big, uncounted
		II. The Antung Railway “triangle”	7,000
	District west of lower Liao River		5,000
	“ “ “ upper “ “		8,000
	“ “ “ Chinchow		10,000

Excepting in I and II above all groups are now reported to be small (however, recent Manchuria Daily News carried article of attack by gang of 3,000).

In first half of April 1933, 690 cases of banditry in Mukden consular district. 369 captives were taken and 9 were killed.

The following are the latest figures upon banditry in the Mukden consular district—given in confidence about July 18, 1933:

Fengtien Province, total number of bandits—				21,300
	Divided as follows:	Tungpien	11,000
		Antung triangle	2,700
		Liao valley	1,700
		Jehol, north	6,000
Taonan and Tungliao areas are now quiet.

It was learned in strictest confidence from a Japanese official in Mukden that on the night of July 24, 1933, a band of at least 1000 bandits appeared ten miles north of Mukden. The entire garrison, even including consular police, was assembled and rushed out of the city in order to disperse the bandits. During the same week 450 ex-bandits employed on the Mukden-Fushun highway construction rebelled, killed the Japanese Major in charge, disarmed their Manchoukuo guards and escaped to take up their former profession.

Economic Development.

Certain Japanese officials admit that the Army has absolute control of Manchuria. Parenthetically, as a result disgruntled consular officials are an excellent source of information. They admit their impotence and state that there has been a lowering of quality in Japanese civilian officials as a result. The hand of the Japanese General Staff is apparent in every new venture in Manchuria. All railways are now consolidated under one head and the couplings of ex-Chinese railway cars changed so they can be used with South Manchuria Railway cars, new lines are being built for strategic and not economic reasons, telegraph and radio have been consolidated into one organization, a “fertilizer” chemical plant is being built in Dairen although Manchuria’s soya bean cake fertilizer is the country’s leading export, a large oil refinery is planned and an aviation company now operates planes and fields far in excess of the normal needs of the country.

Railway Construction (see map⁸).

The construction of railways in Manchuria is proceeding at a rapid and energetic pace. If not now, then at least within two more years the network of railways in Manchuria behind the Kinghan Mountain range will be such that Russia could neither defend Vladivostock nor invade Manchuria unless helped by unforeseen, unheard of outside forces.

The Kirin-Tunhua-Kainei connection (119 miles) has now been completed and will be formally opened September 1st. The railway, 15 kilometers, connecting line with the new port of Eashin will be finished this year.

The Lafa-Wuchang-Harbin line (150 miles) will also be completed this year, furnishing another line of transport from Japan via Harbin and Tsitsihar to the Kinghan Mountains.

The Koshan-Hailun line (105 miles) is now completed and construction started on the very strategically important line, Koshan-Peianchen-Lungchen-Aigun-Taheiho.

The Taonan-Solun line has been completed to Huayuan (52 miles).

From Koupeiyungtze, two stations south of Peipiao, construction has started on a narrow gauge line to Chaoyang, and from that place construction also started on the line to Lingyuan. It is thought that this will be completed this year and the following year extended to Chengte.

It is difficult to determine which of the projected roads will actually be constructed. A director of the South Manchuria Railway recently stated in an interview with a newspaper correspondent that a line from Yenchi through Mnguta to Han would soon be constructed but did not give the actual date.

Highway Construction.

In spite of official announcements concerning new motor road construction varying by many thousands of kilometers, Japanese officials have confidentially admitted progress so far has been very disappointing. This is due to bandits harassing the workers and the failure of the plan to use ex-bandits for road construction. One highway official stated that not more than 400 kilometers could be constructed during the current year.

Soviet-Japanese Relations.

During two dinner engagements with the Soviet Consul in Mukden he made the following statements:

1) Russia will not fight Japan for Manchuria now;

2) Russia will fight if her territory is invaded;

3) A railway from the Trans-Siberian line to Urga is planned but he would not admit that work had actually started. He gave the impression, however, that such was the case.

On the other hand, a Japanese consular official during a period of inebriation gave out this information: The Japanese army is not now concerned with making a greater effort to pacify Manchuria but is more concerned with preparing for a war with Russia. It is realized that the troops in Manchuria are now insufficient for the task of pacification, but the army prefers to use the money saved by limiting the expedition to its present strength, for the purchase of material and the establishment of supply depots in strategically important places in Manchuria.

The same source said that the Japanese army annually expends large sums within Russia proper upon espionage. That the Japanese are hard task masters with the White Russians is shown by their imprisonment during July of all White Russian leaders in Mukden for three days. A White Russian source told me this was stated by the Japanese to be a punishment and warning to them as a result of General Horvath’s statements to the League of Nations Commission last summer.

Aviation.

This subject will be covered in a separate report.

Conclusion.

There is not the slightest doubt that Japan intends to keep Manchuria and all present indications definitely point to her ability to do so. A rapprochement with Russia is hindered only by their mutual natural racial hatred. Provided Japan can forestall the advance of communism within Japan, the advantages to both nations are enormous. …

H. L. Boatner

5. Language officer, Legation in China.
6. Copy forwarded to the War Department by the Military Attaché with this statement of approval: “The information contained in this report and the conclusions drawn accord with the estimates and opinions of the best informed and most impartial observers”. Copy transmitted to the State Department by the War Department; received September 12.
7. See pp. 718 ff.
8. Not attached to file copy.