Marshall Mission Files, Lot 54–D270: Telegram

Colonel J. Hart Caughey to General Marshall at Kuling

1462. Admiral Cooke has reported his initial conference with Generals Sun and Rockey. General Sun undertakes advanced schedule for relieving Marines beginning 15 September. General Sun also confirms Admiral Cooke’s Serial 0020060 brought to you by Litzenberg as to the necessity for holding a corridor for the protection of the bridge guards. General Sun urges that representations61 be made [Page 875] to the Generalissimo for additional forces to carry out his tasks. Admiral Cooke and General Rockey agree to the urgency of this need, stating that it would appear best that General Sun’s urgings not be overlooked.

Our opinion here is that you would not want to urge the Generalissimo to provide additional forces but that it might be desirable for you to acquaint the Generalissimo with the general idea that it will take a great many more Nationalist forces to protect a railway corridor than it took United States Marines in the past. A large measure of protection had previously been afforded by the psychological effect of even a single U. S. Marine soldier standing guard along the railroad as Communists were inclined to avoid any incident with American Marines and now will not be so inclined toward Nationalist Forces.

J. Hart Caughey
  1. Memorandum of September 4 to General Marshall, commenting on problems involved in the relief of marines along railroad between Tangku and Chinwangtao (including personnel guarding bridges along railroad), for the protection of the coal trade.
  2. General Marshall did not feel he could make representations to the Generalissimo since it involved military dispositions and was not compatible with his position as mediator, according to telegram No. 121230Z, September 12, by the 7th Fleet liaison officer (Litzenberg) to Admiral Cooke: this telegram stated further: “Since Gen. Marshall cannot intervene, Gen. Sun might well be urged to present his own case in strongest possible terms emphasizing difficulty of combatting guerrillas over a long and tenuous LOC [line of communication].”