Marshall Mission Files, Lot 54–D270
Memorandum by General Hsu Yung-chang to General Marshall
The following is forwarded for your information:
Troops of T’Ao Yung, Commander of the Chinese Communist 8th Column Group in Central China were originally stationed at Yu-Yi, southwest of Pao-Ying. They moved to Huai-Yin on 4 April; to Pao-Ying on 6 April; passed thru Hsing-Hua on 8 April; reached the vicinity of Nan-T’ung on 20 April; and in the evening of 26 April, approximately 20,000 of these troops raided Government troops at Kuan-Yin-Shan, Hsiao-Hai-Chen (southeast of Nan-T’ung) in two routes from Shih-Chiang-Chen (north of Nan-T’ung). As the result of unpreparedness of Government troops thereat, both these places were occupied by the Chinese Communist troops. On 27 April and morning of 28 April, the Chinese Communist troops attacked the town of Nan-T’ung with no success. On 29 April they retreated toward the direction of Shih-Chiang-Chen. The Government troops then restored and re-occupied the positions held prior to 26 April and did not pursue to attack the retreating Chinese Communist troops.
Casualties inflicted on Government troops were over 300 officers and men killed and/or wounded including 1 regimental commander killed and 1 assistant regimental commander and 2 battalion commanders wounded.
A protest has been sent to General Chou En-lai, Chinese Communist Representative.