893.00/6–2547: Telegram
The Ambassador in China (Stuart) to the Secretary of State
[Received June 25—10:55 a.m.]
1400. In response to query regarding situation in Ssupingkai area, Director of Chinese Government information office at Ministry of Information press conference June 25 made following statement:
“Since June 12 more than 60,000 Communist troops have been attacking Ssupingkai under cover of sustained heavy artillery fire. Commanded by General Chen Min-jen, defending Government forces have put up stiff resistance and beaten back the Communists repeatedly with heavy losses. The 2d Division of the First Communist Army and the 5th Division of the Second Communist Army were completely wiped out by General Chen’s troops. According to tabulations not yet completed, the total Communist casualties are close to 30,000. In the areas west of the railway, most of the Government positions have been destroyed by Communist gun fire. Fighting is now raging along the railway station. Government reinforcements heading northward from Chungku have by-passed Changtu and are threatening the Communists around Ssupingkai. Other detachments of Government forces sent down from Changchun have reached the vicinity of Kungchuling. The siege of Ssupingkai is expected to be lifted in the near future. In a word, the present Communist attack on Ssupingkai is going to be a costly military failure.”
When asked if any Koreans or Japanese have been taken prisoner by Government forces in Manchuria, the director replied in the affirmative and stated that more information on this subject would be supplied at next week’s conference.