861.77 Chinese Eastern/131: Telegram
The Minister in China (MacMurray) to the Secretary of State
[Received 9:40 p.m.]
636. Following from Naval Attaché now at Harbin:
“July 25, 4 p.m. Called on Chang Ching-hui. States that Chinese will not fight; even if Russians advance, Chinese will withdraw. Claims railway not seized. Expect Russia to appoint general manager acceptable to China. Same statement made by Young Marshal. Believe Chinese at Nanking, Mukden, Harbin, now keeping each other informed and telling same story. Chang Ching-hui also reports partisan trouble and Red mutiny of troops few stations from Pogranichnaya five days ago, not confirmed.
Japanese military intelligence states Chinese troops Chinese Eastern Railway as follows: Manchuria Station, Kirin. Best estimates all sources of information agree as to Russian army Irkutsk [and] east 50,000, composed four infantry divisions, two brigades of cavalry, miscellaneous unit, including active aviation [at] Spassk. Division of infantry rumored leaving Vladivostok toward Pogranichnaya, with a brigade of mounted troops plus battery on the Suifenho border. Chinese Army poorly equipped with ammunition averaging fifty rounds per man. Russian modern organization, equipment not modern but much better than Chinese; largest field gun three inch, some heavy artillery [at] Vladivostok. From a Japanese source, 7 o’clock this morning five airships appeared over Manchuli, fired upon by Chinese.”