893.00/7–347: Telegram
The Consul General at Mukden (Ward) to the Secretary of State
[Received July 5—12:25 a.m.]
127. Vice Consul Fred Hubbard (my telegram 207 June 3099) visited Ssupingkai July 1. Following his observations:
Railway tracks between Kaiyuan and Ssuping considerably damaged. Minimum 15 bridges need replacing. Long sections rail and ties removed. Very large bridge at Ssuping completely destroyed. Chinese press reports violent fighting Ssuping airport false. No evidence such fighting. Estimated 85% old and new cities completely destroyed, bulk of destruction being done by Nationalist air force. Nationalist air force also killed large number Nationalist troops and Chinese civilians in city. Canadian Catholic Commission [mission?] church completely destroyed by Nationalist bombing. Priests estimate [Page 216] mission loss US $100,000. All priests and nuns unharmed. No evidence Communist use gas (Changchun telegram 268, June 26 [24] to Nanking2). Soybean stocks destroyed by fire, origin unknown, and gases from burning beans may have been mistaken for gas. Nationalists defended city with 25,000 men including 87th and 88th Divisions of 71st Army and 54th Division of 13th Army. Nationalist casualties high. Eighty-eighth Division Commander advised only two battalions his division remain. Chief Staff 71st Army stated 87th Division composed mainly new troops who at time of victory had only 1 week’s training. My estimate based on various comments casualties Nationalists lost 15,000 men. Nationalist sources state attack directed by Lin Piao3 contradicting their former reports his death, and by Saito (my telegram 162, June 13; 169, June 16 and 175, June 184). Impractical determine morale Nationalist defenders because impossible retreat even if desired. Nationalists unanimous praising high morale and bravery Communists. Catholic priests advise Catholic Nationalist soldiers informed them Communists fought as if “devil inspired”. Nationalists stated Soviets, Koreans and Japs used by Communists. Evidently have propagandized even common soldier that they are now not only fighting Chinese Communists but Soviet and Korean Communists as well. When queried regarding Soviet assistance in campaign, after stating flatly Soviet assisted, Nationalists hedged by stating Soviets only used in high echelon positions. When pressed, Nationalists made no claims of capturing or seeing Soviets. Claim to have captured from 200 to 400 Japs and Koreans. Finally allowed me talk to three captives, one Korean and two Japs, who had apparently been carefully chosen and possibly only three captured. Chinese-speaking Korean, 23 years age, had lived in Mukden 21 years. Taken by Communists several years ago. Fighting with Communists but had no Soviet training. Japs also residents Manchuria but impossible interrogate them because my inability speak Japanese. Nationalist[s] claimed to have captured three Soviet machine guns but when pressed failed to produce guns. Indications were Communists had little desire take city although bent on destruction and annihilation and then withdrew rather than try to hold positions. Nationalist reinforcement columns proceeding from south did not bottle Communists (my telegram 207, June 304a). Communists effected withdrawal entire forces to northeast and northwest. Nationalist forces advancing southward from Changchun still have not reached Ssuping area.
[Page 217]Dead still unburied. Water system completely disrupted. Flies very bad. Several cases cholera and epidemic expected in city but Nationalists taking steps to prevent.
Sent Nanking as 214, repeated Department as 127, Changchun as 109, Dairen 24.
- See telegram No. 121, June 30, p. 208.↩
- Not printed; it suggested that reports that the Chinese Communists had used poison gas at Ssupingkai were not true (800 Kmt–China).↩
- Chinese Communist general commanding in Manchuria.↩
- Telegrams Nos. 162 and 175, not printed; No. 169 not found in Department files.↩
- Same as telegram No. 121, June 30, p. 208.↩