Office of the Historian

Marshall Mission Files, Lot 54–D270

Memorandum by Lieutenant General Alvan C. Gillem to General Chang Chih-chung

Chungking, March 24, 1946.

My Dear General Chang: I have received the following report from General Teng Tai-yuan, Chinese Communist Party, with reference to the Hankow situation, which is furnished to you in connection with our conference of this date:

1.
On the 13th inst., one regiment of the Government 13th Division in Ying-shan (113° 50’, 31° 38’) attacked on Chang-chia-tien, Liu-chia-tien, Chen-chia-po, Min-chia-chung in the New Fourth Army area, south of Ying-shan. The Communist-led troops are forced to retreat from those places and the Government troops are still advancing.
2.
At 6 a.m. of the 14th inst., one regiment of the Government New 15th Division in Hwang-an (114° 40’, 31° 25’) and Hokow (114° 30’, 31° 25’) attacked on the troops of the 5th Division in Big Chin-shan and Small Chin-shan south of Hwang-an and occupied these places on 15th. The 5th Division suffered a casualty of more than twenty [Page 618] men with the commander of the Second Battalion of the Seventh Regiment heavily wounded. Now, six regiments of the Government troops in that area have concentrated and started a new attack.
3.
On the 14th inst., the 44th and 45th regiments of the Government troops attacked on the troops of the 5th Division in Ong-chia-tien, Kuo-chia-ho and Yang-tze-shan, all in the south of Hwang-an (114° 41’, 31° 25’). The battle is still going on.
4.
On the 15th inst., one regiment of the Government 135th Division of 76th Army attacked Ta-tze-ho, north of Sui-hsien (113° 27’, 31° 42’). Chow Bing [Pin], an officer of the 5th Division, who was sent to negotiate for a cease-fire, was detained in the Headquarters of the 135th Division. He has not been released up to now, and nobody knows what happened to him. The Government troops are still attacking on that area.
5.
On the 18th inst., the troops of the Government New 15th Division coming from Liu-chia-ho, twenty kilometers northeast of Ho-kow (114° 30’, 31° 25’) attack on the 4th Regiment of the Independent 2nd Brigade in Kuo-chia-shan, northeast of Liu-chia-ho.
6.
On the 20th inst., the troops of the Government 34th Division of the 72nd Army, coming from Ho-kow (114° 30’, 31° 25’), attacked on Wu-tze-tan, northeast of Ho-kow. The battle is still raging and the government troops have reached a place only half a kilometer from Yu-wang-miao, the rear of the 5th Division.

General Teng proposes that in order to remedy the critical situation, the following measures should be taken:

1.
A strict order which provides the immediate cessation of assault on the 5th Division and the withdrawal to the original position be issued as soon as possible to the Government troops. This is to be followed by the investigation of the Field Team of Hankow in the areas of confliction.
2.
The routes for the transportation of foodstuff be opened and permission be given to the purchasing officers. The security of the 5th Division officers, as well as that of the purchasing officers, be ensured. It is requested that the purchasing officers who were sent to Kwang-ying-tang to get food and arrested without any provocation, the sixteen officers, including Lee Hsien Hwa and Tai Chieh, and three soldiers who were sent by the Eastern Hupeh Military District to the south of Lo-an, and the liaison officer, Chow Pin, who was sent for negotiation and arrested by the Government 135th Division, all be released. An apology be made to the Communists by the Government.
3.
The CNRRA74 is requested to take good care of that area according [Page 619] to a previous arrangement by sending enough food and necessary articles for the people concerned.
4.
It is requested that a loan of 1,000,000,000 be granted by the Government to the 5th Division to meet the emergency of the food shortage.
5.
An immediate arrangement be made for the borrowing and exchange of food.

Sincerely,

A. C. Gillem, Jr.
  1. Chinese National Relief and Rehabilitation Administration.↩