740.0011 P.W./6–645: Telegram
The Ambassador in China (Hurley) to the Secretary of State
[Received June 6—12:19 p.m.]
939. Following is summary of M[ilitary] A[ttaché’s] report for week ending June 2:
Large scale enemy troop movements continued throughout China, especially in southern Kwangsi, following their abandonment of [Page 118] Wuning and Hochih, they gave up Pinyang and Nanning. Some elements formerly established in that area withdrew to Indochina and others up the Kwangsi–Hunan corridor via Liuchow and Kweilin. The Japanese withdrawal for this area is quite significant as it seems to indicate their intentions with respect to the defense of their positions in China and Southwest Asia. Surrendering their Indochina–Kwangsi border area means surrendering an uninterrupted line of land communications from outposts in Southeast Asia to northern China. This may be interpreted as a Japanese decision to (1) abandon their forces throughout the Southeast Pacific, leaving them to fight delaying actions whenever possible, and (2) engage in a policy of strategic contraction of their forces in China and concentration in more important areas in preparation against possible Allied action against the Continent. Some of the enemy forces retiring from southern Kwangsi will presumably concentrate in northern Indochina, others in the Canton Delta and yet others in North China. Reports from elsewhere in China indicate a similar trend, particularly in Chekiang and Kiangsu. Japanese columns which recently moved into southern Chekiang are withdrawing for concentration in the Hangchow–Shanghai area.
Fighting which has been taking place in Hunan and Honan has practically ceased.
CACW and 14th Air Force continued their operations in support of Chinese ground forces. Strategically their effort was largely concentrated on the Yangtze River Valley. 14th Air Force operations developed their tendency to engage more in strategic than tactical operations. As indicated in recent operations around Chihkiang, Allied air effort will play a decisive part in this war theater, rendering successful air coordination with ground forces as well as controlling the skies. During May the 14th Air Force flew some 1900 sorties from the Chihkiang air base, which had a tremendous effect in forcing the Japanese withdrawal.
Clashes between Chungking and Communist forces have recently been reported in Central China and along the coast. These clashes, as yet unsupported by factual intelligence, appear to have followed previous patterns where Communists have occupied areas abandoned by the enemy. Communists have also been consolidating their positions and expanding their spheres of influence along the coast where clashes with puppet troops have been precipitated.