740.0011 P.W./3–1145: Telegram
The Chargé in China (Atcheson) to the Secretary of State
[Received March 11—1 p.m.]
406. M[ilitary] A[ttaché’s] Summary for week ending March 10.
Kwangtung–Kwangsi–Hunan front remained relatively stable for 4th consecutive week. Japanese appeared to have abandoned, at least temporarily, their original plan of continuing their drive to South China coast after capture of air bases in this area. This task may have been assigned to Japanese forces now garrisoning Chinhua and Nanchang which have recently received substantial reinforcements. In any case, it would seem that Japanese forces which had completed occupation of southern half of Hankow–Canton Railway would shortly be transferred elsewhere.
This possibility has recently been strengthened by 14th Air Force liaison report (based on usually reliable Chinese sources) that Japanese War Ministry had decided to attack Kunming in order to neutralize (1) possible counterattack on Kweilin (ReEmbs 387, [Page 68] March 8, 4 p.m.3) and (2) effectiveness of reopening of Burma Road. It was reported that on February 8, Japanese 5th Parachute Brigade had left Manchuria for Kweilin, that on February 15 Japanese forces along Yueh-Han Railway had been ordered to concentrate on Kweilin and Liuchow and that on February 19 an important Japanese officer had flown from Nanking to Kweilin to direct operations. Enemy strategy seemed to be based on probability that even though drive on Kunming was unsuccessful it would at least permit continued operation of Hunan–Kwangsi Railway. At present there are 10 Japanese divisions in thousand mile area between Changsha and Saigon which are not engaged in any major operations and which are available for use against possible Allied landings on coast and for policing of interior lines of communication. Above report should be treated with reserve as recent large scale Japanese troop movements from Manchuria may not indicate attack on Kunming but only strengthening of Japanese defensive position in South China.
Fourteenth Air Force and CACW continued to disrupt and destroy Japanese lines of communication by sinking river and ocean vessels and destroying railway equipment. Sorties were continued in close support of Chinese ground forces and against communications centers and supply concentrations. Operations from newly won bases in Philippines will relieve 14th Air Force of necessity of operations off South China coast.
- Not printed.↩