894A.00/3–1447: Telegram
The Consul General at Tsingtao (Spiker) to the Secretary of State
Tsingtao, March 14,
1947—11 a.m.
[Received March 14—11 a.m.]
[Received March 14—11 a.m.]
19. Destruction of railway including bridge demolition, removal of rails and burning of ties shown by US Marine aerial reconnaissance to be virtually complete between Chengyang (20 miles from Tsingtao) and Fangtze (10 miles east of Weihsien) with heavy damage to line between Weihsien and Tsinan including destruction of most bridges.
Govt forces now occupy line east bank Takuho to Lantsun to Tsimo eastwards to sea which is outermost of 4 defense lines to be utilized in protection Tsingtao.
Sent to Embassy No. 19; repeated Dept 19; Shanghai 12.
Spiker