Marshall Mission Files, Lot 54–D270
Memorandum by General Hsu Yung-chang to General Marshall
The Communists claimed Tsao No. 1 Order from General Tang En Po, Commander of the First Pacification Area of the Government forces which states that Government troops would attack against Northern Kiangsu on 15 July was received.48 After investigation, it revealed that the entire document was falsely created. This can be proven with the following facts: (1) General Tang En Po was transferred to become the Commander in Chief of the Capital Garrison. He is no longer responsible for the Northern Kiangsu front. (2) The Government forces do not have the organization of a 2nd Fleet in the Navy. (3) The 5th Army is not under the direct command of the Ministry of National Defense. (4) The Government troops did not initiate attacks on the 15th. On the contrary, Communist forces concentrated 16 regiments on 13 July and attacked our Tai-hsing area and closed in on the shores of the Yangtze River. Government troops suffered heavy casualties and only then they were forced to take defensive actions which you were previously notified as on the record. All these clearly proved that this document was not only falsely created, but the main purpose was to be used to cover up the Communists’ planned offensive operations. Also, this tactic is frequently employed by the Communist troops.
The above is for your information.
- Notation on the original: “This refers to order claimed [by] Mr. Chou [En-lai] to be Kiangsu attack plan”.↩