893.00/10–747: Telegram
The Ambassador in China ( Stuart ) to the Secretary of State
[Received October 7—6:30 a.m.]
2034. As Department will have gathered from recent messages [from] Changchun and Mukden, it now seems clear that Communists have launched major offensive Manchuria. Reds have struck at variety of places before Ch’en Ch’eng reorganization moves were completed and outcome in northeast will depend largely upon Ch’en’s ability to forestall panic and make adequate counter-dispositions with uncompleted new staffs.
Following is general situation in brief: Second Communist column from Huaite wrecked rail line completely between 8 and 18 miles south Changchun, intermittent damage south to Ssuping. Part Communist first column and 24th Brigade attacking Itung south Changchun. Mukden expects major battle Kaiyuan and Changtu. Estimate over 100,000 Reds Meihokou area immediately available. Seventh Red column already contacted near Kaiyuan and units 1st and 3rd Red column attacking Hsifeng. Yingkou isolated as expected but Reds also blew bridge between Liaoyang and Anshan cutting off Anshan defense anchor. No reports activity near Fushun but Reds active short stretch Nationalist-held Mukden–Antung line and Reds reported landing Antung from Shantung, Mukden isolated from China except by air. On Peiping–Mukden line Nationalists 54th Division 13th Army moving north from Shanhaikwan but Red 10th and 11th Brigades held rail line Hsingcheng area.
As previously reported by Mukden and now fairly well confirmed, the newly arrived 49th Army has been nearly two-thirds destroyed in Chinhai area. Likewise Nationalists’ 53rd Army and 207th Division are reported to have been badly mauled. Immediate outlook is that Government will hold major centers but that serious losses of men, equipment, transportation lines, food and fuel will make Government [Page 316] position precarious for coming winter. Disruption Ch’en Ch’eng’s plans for drastic reorganization weakens his internal political position as well.
Generalissimo’s99 present visit to Peiping is believed partially in connection with northeastern situation but consensus of opinion here among informed American observers, as well as senior Chinese Generals, is that Government’s best hope is that Generalissimo will refrain from tactical meddling.
- Chiang Kai-shek, President of the National Government of the Republic of China.↩