893.00/10–3144
The Ambassador in China (Gauss) to the Secretary of State
[Received November 11.]
Sir: Referring to the Embassy’s despatch no. 2986, September 21, 1944,50 entitled “Communist Charges against General Yen Hsi-shan”, I have the honor to enclose a copy of an item50 released by the Chinese Government-controlled Central News Agency dated October 25, 1944, which contains a statement attributed to Dr. P. H. Chang, a spokesman of the Chinese Government, in regard to certain alleged clashes between forces of General Yen Hsi-shan and the Chinese Communists in Shansi and Shensi Provinces in August and September 1944.
According to this statement, Communist forces attacked General Yen’s 61st Army in the area east of Linfen in south central Shansi late in August and again on September 8, while other Communist forces attacked Chiulin and Kangpinghsiang in east central Shensi on September 11 and 21 respectively.
If based on fact, these reported attacks suggest that the Communists are bent on driving General Yen’s forces from the areas east of the Tung-Pu Railway which they occupied earlier in the year. The reported Communist attacks on Chiulin and Kangpinghsiang were probably designed to threaten General Yen’s rear and line of communications, for Chiulin is on the highway leading from Sian to Kenanpo, the site of General Yen’s headquarters just east of the Yellow River in southwest Shansi.
[Page 665]The Embassy has received no independent reports tending either to confirm or deny the allegations of the Government spokesman, nor any reports of further developments since the last reported clash on September 21.
Respectfully yours,