893.00/9882: Telegram
The Minister in China (MacMurray) to the Secretary of State
[Received April 19—2:45 p.m.]
246. My 235, April 17, 3 p.m. Following from Tsinanfu:
“April 18, 7 p.m. Very difficult to obtain any reliable information but all the latest news indicates situation is serious. It appears that because the main portion of Marshal Sun’s96 forces were south of Tsining and advancing towards Lunghai Railway, the Kuominchun were able to advance on Tsining and have surrounded Northern troops in that city. Due to the situation at Tsining, Northern troops reported falling back from Chiehho to Yenchow. Kuominchun calvary [cavalry] reported to have attempted to cut railway north of Yenchow but said to have been driven off. Marshal Chang is at Taian while Marshal Sun is reported to be somewhere south of Yütai.”
- Sun Ch’uan-fang, nominal overlord of Kiangsu, Kiangsi, Chekiang, Fukien, and Anhwei Provinces.↩