793.94/4320: Telegram
The Consul General at Shanghai (Cunningham) to the Secretary of State
Shanghai, February 19, 1932—6
p.m.
[Received February 19—2:48 p.m.]
[Received February 19—2:48 p.m.]
81. Continuing my daily report 72, February 18, 6 p.m.
- 1.
- The situation in Chapei sector continues relatively quiet with the exception of occasional bursts of artillery, machine-gun and rifle fire. Good visibility makes possibilities for the Japanese aeroplanes to attempt to reconnoitre the Chinese gun emplacements. The Japanese are busy bringing up heavy artillery for the coming battle. The ultimatum is expected to expire at sunset tomorrow night. It is reported that the Chinese authorities are drafting their reply which will amount to a Chinese refusal. Drawn up to resist the Japanese attack are four and a half divisions of regular Chinese troops in addition to a regiment of the tax police altogether approximately 50,000 troops. These comprise the 60th, 61st and 78th Divisions of the 19th Route Army and the 87th and 88th Divisions of the Emergency Corps.
- 2.
- Projectiles still continue to fall in the area of the International Settlement.
- 3.
- The total number wounded Chinese admitted to hospitals in Shanghai is 1,210.
- 4.
- General Tsai Ting-kai is reported to have stated that the ultimatum cannot possibly be accepted and that he was considering warning Chinese women and children to evacuate danger zones within and without the Settlement. He requested newspapermen to give a warning to foreign nationals resident in danger areas within and without the Settlement to evacuate immediately since return fire would be directed to the apparent source thereof no matter where that source was and that the Chinese Army to this extent could no longer consider the Settlement a neutral area.
Repeated to the Legation, Nanking.
Cunningham