793.94/4670: Telegram
The Minister in China (Johnson) to the Secretary of State
Shanghai, March 10, 1932—6
p.m.
[Received March 10—10:15 a.m.]
My March 9, 3 p.m.78 was
an unnumbered preliminary report. Joint situation report number 179 follows:
- “1. On morning of March 6th Japanese had occupied points
along a line running roughly from northwest of Liuho on the
Yangtze sea [via] Lutung, 1 mile west
of Kiating, to Huangtu, on Shanghai-Nanking Railway west of
Nanziang, and thence bending east covering Chenju along
Soochow Creek with a few patrols south of the Creek.
Skirmishes were then taking place such as are involved in
the case of troops occupying a new front. Japanese report
occasional skirmishes between patrols but no casualties
March 7th. Japanese reinforcements were disembarking at
Woosung Railway wharves on the morning of March 7th. We have
received no information of any change in the situation since
but both sides charge the other with responsibility for
fighting northwest of Liuho. We are taking steps to verify
facts in this connection.
- 2. Owing to geographical difficulties resulting from
Chinese withdrawal we are at present only able to secure
first-hand information from Japanese side of front but we
are endeavoring to make arrangements for maintaining contact
with Chinese side also.”
