793.94/11722: Telegram
The Ambassador in China (Johnson) to the Secretary of State
[Received December 19—4:15 p.m.]
83. Following for War Department from Colonel Stilwell.40
“General Feng Yu Hsiang stated today that the Chinese are prepared to continue their resistance for at least 6 months, that the munitions supply, while not plentiful, can be made to do, that a total of 120 divisions are available, that 23 divisions have not yet been in action at all, that a line will be formed north and south of the Yangtze extending roughly from Pengpu through Wuhu to Hangchow, and any Japanese advances toward Hankow resisted. He said that while outside help would be welcome, China is prepared to carry on alone, that the country is united as never before, and that he expected increasing trouble for the Japanese on their lines of communication as they penetrated deeper into the country.”
Repeated to Peiping.
- Military Attaché in China.↩