793.94/13018: Telegram
The First Secretary of Embassy in China (Salisbury) to the Secretary of State
[Received May 14—7 a.m.]
295. 1. A reliable American who has just come from Paotingfu, Hopei, states that this Japanese occupied city is virtually in a state of siege from Chinese troops affiliated with the 18th Army Corps (formerly 8th Route Army) some 20,000 with headquarters at Chichow (Anping) about 20 miles to the southeast having gathered in the vicinity since the withdrawal in April of Japanese garrisons from small towns near Paotingfu. He states that there are frequent skirmishes between Chinese and Japanese soldiers in the outskirts of Paotingfu, that the Chinese have torn up roads within 2 or 3 miles of the city, the railway is constantly being damaged by Chinese soldiers and interrupted, the Japanese withdraw at night to a barricaded section and Chinese troops come nightly into the city.
2. Informant states that shells directed May 7 at Chinese soldiers in the south suburb by a Japanese armored train endangered the American Board Mission there, 2 falling in the mission compound, 2 near by and 1 further shell slightly damaging a mission building. The mission brought this to the attention of the local Japanese garrison and was informed that no guarantee against recurrence could be given [Page 321] since Chinese soldiers in the vicinity must be attacked. The mission thinks however that more care will be taken by the Japanese in the future but does not wish an official protest to be made.
3. There are 10 Americans in Paotingfu, 2 men and 2 women in the Presbyterian Mission. The Embassy suggested to the informant that their position appeared too dangerous for them to remain but he indicated that all the missionaries including the women were unwilling to leave.
4. Repeated [to] Embassy [at] Hankow and Shanghai.