893.00/10–448: Telegram
The Consul General at Tientsin (Smyth) to the Secretary of State
[Received October 4—2:48 a. m.]
275. Communist capture Tsinan has had depressing effect on Chinese here. Fall of Tsinan release[s] large Communist force for operations elsewhere. Most Chinese here believe Communist will turn south toward Hsuchow, but some think Communists may turn north, thus putting heavy additional pressure on Fu Tso-yi, already strained in defending own area and also assisting inferior troops of Fan Han-chieh.
This latest example of apparently ability [apparent inability?] of Nanking to resist Communists has caused number Chinese here to feel Communist victory in China inevitable unless there is drastic shakeup in Nanking military command. They feel Nanking armies [Page 485] will continue be defeated unless some of present top commanders are removed and [re] placed by competent military officers. Criticism directed at generals such as Ku Chu-tung, Chief of Staff, and Tu Li-ming,58 largely responsible for loss much of Manchuria, who reportedly has now been given important military post in east China. Chinese feel no hope for Government military success as long as Generalissimo insists on keeping in top posts general[s], his personal friends of long standing, who have repeatedly demonstrated their military incompetence.
Chinese in North China have great faith in military ability Fu-Tso-yi, whom they consider as best top Government military commander. However, they feel that Fu and his troops cannot expect contain Communists indefinitely, if masses of Communist troops released by Nanking defeats in other areas, are to be thrown against them.
Sent Nanking 501, repeated Department, Shanghai 480, Peiping and Mukden.
- Chinese Commander in Chief in Manchuria, 1945–1947; Deputy Commander of Bandit Suppression Headquarters, Hsuchow, Kiangsu.↩