793.94/12027: Telegram
The Ambassador in China (Johnson) to the Secretary of State
[Received January 10—9:30 a.m.]
17. Following for War Department from Colonel Stilwell.23
“I returned Hankow January 9 from Changsha, Nanchang, Kiukiang. No peace talk anywhere in the area. Hunan Governor talks of 3 years’ resistance, Kiangsi Governor same opinion. Training programs under way in Hunan and Kiangsi for roughly 1 million men in each province. Munitions and equipment admitted serious matter. Practically every Chinese soldier on guerilla warfare. Many units withdrawn to Nanchang, Hankow area for replacement. I believe there is little contact between opposing sides southwest of Nanking and that the front there has practically melted away”.
Repeated to Peiping.
- Col. Joseph W. Stilwell, Military Attaché in China.↩