893.00/6–547: Telegram
The Ambassador in China (Stuart) to the Secretary of State
[Received June 5—3:20 a.m.]
1215. As supplementing Changchun’s 232, May 29 to Embassy, repeated Department as 1202, June 4 and Mukden’s 131, May 30, repeated Department as 78, there is quoted below the latest report from Lt. Col. Cowen,40 Assistant Military Attaché at Changchun, which was received at Nanking June 4:
“Government 91st Division badly beaten at Kungchuling losing 2 battalions either captured, surrendered or destroyed, but whole division did not capitulate. Division commander was replaced. Government 88th Division suffered even heavier losses in fighting between Huaiteh and Kungchuling. Both divisions now reported at Ssupingkai. Changchun now secure but Meihoukou almost sure to fall. Fear expressed for safety of Mukden.
Comment: Doubt if Reds will withdraw to original positions unless driven back which Government forces seem incapable of doing. Believe Government position much worse than at any other time and unless substantial help is received from China proper believe Manchuria must be lost through default.”
- Lt. Col. Edward T. Cowen, Assistant Military Attaché in China.↩