Office of the Historian

893.00/9–2848: Telegram

The Consul General at Tientsin (Smyth) to the Secretary of State

Tientsin, September 28, 1948—5 p. m.
[Received September 28—6:07 a. m.]

273. Re my 482, September 24.41 Changli reoccupied by Government forces. Railway open east to Shihmen, west to Liushouying; between these points heavy damage, many bridges wrecked.

Despite press reports, apparently not much fighting since Communists began attack September 13. Communists attacked lightly held rail sector and retired when purposes accomplished.

Morale of Fan Han-chieh troops at Chinwangtao reported low.

Sent Nanking 492; repeated Department 273, Shanghai 1472, Peiping and Mukden.

Smyth
  1. To Nanking; repeated to the Department as telegram No. 271, not printed.↩