Marshall Mission Files, Lot 54–D270: Telegram
Brigadier General Thomas S. Timberman 2 to General Marshall
7445. Team 25 returned Peiping 1800, Friday 23 August. United States member of team reports that during 2 days of investigation (22 and 23 August) in Hsiang Ho, total of six Chinese Communist Party witnesses were interviewed by team including Fourteenth Military Sub-District Commander and Chinese Communist Party Company Commander as reported in our 7367 of 23 August.3 The Chinese party unit involved was identified as the Fifth Company, Second Battalion, 53rd Regiment belonging to the Hopei–Jehol–Liaoning military area under the overall command of Hsiao Ke.
In the opinion of the United States team member, previous US reports and testimony taken on deployment of troops and general details of action during Marine incident was confirmed with one exception. The Chinese Communist Party witnesses interviewed here claim Marines fired first shot. The US member further reports indications that witnesses were briefed for this interrogation.
Team 25 departed Executive Headquarters for Anping 1300 today, 24 August to interview witnesses to be made available by the Nationalist Government. Team expects to return to Peiping early this evening 24 August.