761.9315 Manchuria/153: Telegram
The Counselor of Embassy in China (Lockhart) to the Secretary of State
[Received August 29—12:04 p.m.]
The following is Mukden’s August 28, 5 p.m. to Peiping.
“August 28, 5 p.m. 18. An official announcement today says that Soviets yesterday morning began furious bombardment of the Japanese lines at Nomonhan and Chiangchunmiao. As the latter place is situated on the 48th parallel and the 119th meridian, Soviets on this front evidently have advanced about 25 miles beyond the Halha and are heading for supply route from Hailar to Nomon. A foreign acquaintance residing at the small hotel above the railroad station at Kaiyuan tells me that he has in the past 2 months observed after nightfall an unending procession of troop and war material (especially wheeled equipment) trains proceeding north. Trans-Siberian travelers this month have noted likewise heavy Soviet troop and material movements eastward”.
The above telegram was received here without a signature and the Embassy does not know whether the message is complete as received. Inquiry is being made.75
Repeated to Chungking, Tokyo.
- It was found to be complete.↩