793.94/12811: Telegram
The Consul General at Shanghai (Gauss) to the Secretary of State
[Received April 11—11 a.m.]
531. My 514, April 8, 1 p.m.12 Foreign military observers state that the Chinese launched a new and well coordinated counteroffensive against the Japanese at Taierchwang on April 8th and succeeded in driving the Japanese northward toward Yihsien. The Japanese 10th Division which has borne the brunt of the fighting in the Taierchwang sector for the past 2 weeks is reported to have suffered heavy casualties and to have been disorganized. The Japanese military authorities here continue to deny reports of Chinese victories.
Liang Hung Chih, Acting Head of the so-called “Reformed Government”, returned recently from Peiping where he conferred with Wang Keh Min regarding the merging of the two governments, Liang informed Japanese press reporters that the amalgamation will take place as soon as possible and that the two governments will appoint commissioners to work out the details. The more important members of the “Reformed Government” continue to spend most of their time in Shanghai.
Repeated to Hankow and Peiping.
- Not printed.↩