893.24/11–1948
Memorandum by the Director of the Office of Far Eastern Affairs (Butterworth) to the Secretary of State
There is attached a tabulation (Tab A)1 based on a telegram, dated December 2, (Tab B)2 from the American Military Attaché at Nanking, comprising an estimate of the over-all losses of American equipment by the Chinese Government forces from V–J Day through December 2, 1948.
In terms of American trained units a conservative estimate of losses based on tables of organization and equipment is as follows: [Page 227]
- a.
- 17 originally U. S. equipped divisions totally lost
- b.
- Units remaining:
- 12 Divisions (85 percent U. S. Equipped)
- 2 Divisions (50 percent U. S. Equipped)
- 2 Divisions (15 percent U. S. Equipped)
- 2 Divisions (10 percent U. S. Equipped)
General Soule points out that the estimate of losses is most conservative as there are observed instances in which regiments of U. S. equipped divisions have been wiped out and later reconstituted with American equipment. He considers an estimate of 80 percent losses of U. S. equipment by capture and attrition (given by a high ranking Nationalist officer of the supply services following the fall of Manchuria) to be a sound basis on which to determine total losses of U. S. equipment. It is General Soule’s estimate, furthermore, that at least 75 percent of the equipment supplied has fallen into the hands of the Chinese Communist Forces. The Communists claim that 70 percent of the U. S. equipped Nationalist forces were lost by November 2, 1948.