893.00/11–2045
The Navy Department to the Department of State 49
The following dispatches, dated 16, 17 and 18 November 1945, from the Commander, Seventh Fleet, are paraphrased for the information of the Department of State:
16 November 1945
“It is expected that in the near future Japanese will be repatriated from North China at a rate of 45,000 monthly. 6,500 have thus far been repatriated from Taku. The First Marine Air Wing, under orders to attack anyone in the open firing on Marines, demonstrated over Huyuh area. The aircraft did not take offensive action. Communist forces continue to interrupt communication lines in North China. Report has been received to the effect that two officers and four enlisted men were uninjured when a TBM plane was forced down 90 miles due south of Peiping on 10 November. Personnel are being held by the 8th Route Army, with which representations for release have been instigated. After investigating six large cargo ships (USSR) and a beached PBY at Port Arthur, an American aircraft [Page 648] (Mariner) was closed by a Russian fighter a short distance southeast of Port Arthur. The Russian plane maintained contact until the Mariner was 40 miles south of Dairen at which position it attacked. Fortunately the plane was not hit.
17 November 1945
“The Commanding General, Third Amphibious Corps, advises train attacked north of Luanhsien. The roadbed and 300 yards of track were destroyed. Continued operation of the railroad is vital to shipment of Marine supplies and coal to Shanghai. The Generalissimo, as well as the Communist leader, Chou-En-lai, have been advised with respect to the General Peck incident. It is obvious that the Communists are endeavoring to create an incident. The Communist Army is withdrawing as the CNA Army is breaching the Great Wall at Chiumen. Enroute to Mukden is the Nationalist 52nd Army presently at Shanhaikwan. Headed for Tsinan is the Nationalist 4th Army, which landed at Tsingtao. Communists, according to the 6th Marine Division, are attacking the Japanese at Liu-Ting Airfield, as well as the railroad south of Liu-Ting. Referring to yesterday’s dispatch, General Wedemeyer has requested the Communist leader to release immediately personnel of the TBM which was forced down.
18 November 1945
“Two Nationalist Armies (3rd and 16th) are enroute to Peiping. They are now at Chih-Chia-Chuang. An estimated 700 unidentified troops attacked Nationalist troops outside Tientsin with minor casualties resulting. Between Chiao-Hsien and Tsang-Kou eight culverts and two railroad bridges have been destroyed. It is estimated that there are in Shantung 61,473 troops and 20,076 Japanese civilians. It is reported that the Chinese plan to concentrate Japanese civilians at Tsingtao. It is further reported that 1,200 Japanese troops are fighting the Communists at Miyun. Nationalist Headquarters ordered the Japanese to resist.”
Rear Admiral, USN
- Sent from the Office of the Chief of Naval Operations to the Division of Foreign Activity Correlation.↩