893.00/1–2947: Telegram
The Ambassador in China (Stuart) to the Secretary of State
[Received January 28—11:45 p.m.]
151. Central Government has reinforced Changchun area from Mukden and fighting north and east of Changchun apparently continues with considerable Communist forces involved. Available information would indicate that Central Government forces are handicapped by inadequate winterization of automotive equipment and the ammunition supply, particularly of American equipped divisions, is critically low.
Clubb reports from Changchun that present military movement in Chiutai sector northeast of Changchun appears to be a Communist withdrawal with forces intact. Sun Li-jen, commander New First Army, admitted to Clubb on January 21 that Communists avoided pitched battles and few prisoners were taken. Sun stated that Communists now back in original positions on opposite shore Sungari River. Sun also stated that approximately 100,000 Communist troops were engaged. This statement conflicts with estimate of Assistant Military Attaché, Changchun,35 that about 20,000 troops were engaged in front line fighting on each side.
Although, according to General Sun, Communists are now back in original positions, they reputedly looted large quantities of goods in [Page 27] course of operations and distracted Government forces from launching any offensive. Clubb reports that news accounts indicate no substantial victory achieved by Government forces and that Communist forces took initiative in the first instance and apparently maintained it throughout fighting.
It is not unlikely that movement of troops from Mukden to reinforce Changchun will result in increased Communist activity South Manchuria. General pattern which is developing indicates that hit-and-run tactics of Communists will continue and there has been recent increase in these movements in Shantung and Hopei. Informed observers do not believe Central Government forces capable yet mounting full-scale effective offensive against Communists in any area although Central Government military officials Nanking continue confident that if so ordered they could successfully liquidate Communist problem.
- Maj. Robert B. Rigg.↩