Foreign Relations of the United States Diplomatic Papers, 1939, The Far East, Volume III

793.94/14878: Telegram

The Chargé in China (Peck) to the Secretary of State

Chungking, April 11, 1939—6 p.m.
[Received April 11—1 p.m.]

255. Royal Leonard, American aviator, who piloted the Russian Ambassador and Sun Fo⁴¹ to Tihua on March 26 and 27 has informed an Embassy officer that the military aviation field at Lanchow, Kansu (where the plane stopped overnight), is the largest in China, extending for more than a mile in length. He also confirmed reports of a large concentration of pursuit and bombing planes of Russian design at Lanchow (he estimated the number at more than 50 planes). He said both Chinese and Russian pilots and mechanics were in evidence at the airport.

The informant added that he was told at Lanchow that the bodies of Italians were found in the wreckage of some of the 15 Japanese planes brought down in recent raids on that city.

Repeated to Peiping.

Peck

41. President of the Chinese Legislative Yuan.