New York Times: Manchuria Gains are Won by Chiang, November 20, 1945

Manchuria Gains are Won by Chiang: Chungking Says Government Troops Have Gone 40 Miles Beyond Shanhaikwan
New York Times: Tuesday, November 20, 1945, page 2.
By Tillman Durdin. By Wireless to the New York Times.

[Map Caption: In the region of Shanhaikwan (1) Nationalist soldiers swept to Suichung and Shihmenchai (A on inset). Suichung is half way to the port of Hulutao and a third of the way to the Communist base at Chinhsien. In the interior Chinese Reds were attacking Tatung (2), were still besieging Kweisui (3) and were reported to have captured the railroad town of Paotow (4). The Communists denied they were landing men at Dairen and Port Arthur (5), but government sources insisted such forces were crossing from the Shantung Peninsula and were landing in that area.]

CHUNGKING, China, Nov. 19 – Government troops, pouring into Manchuria through Shanhaikwan, have reached Suichung, forty miles beyond the Great Wall, Government sources revealed here today.

At the same time it was reliably reported that virtually the entire Government mission of 500 persons, sent to Changchun a month ago to take over civil and military affairs in Manchuria, was being withdrawn, and that only a small group was being left behind to maintain liaison with the Russians.

These major developments on the Manchurian scene coincided with a continued lack of improvement in Communist-Kuomintang relations, marked by comment from Communist sources here that “conditions have worsened.” Communist-Kuomintang hostilities at Kweisui, Paotow and Tatung in China’s far north and at points in southern Shansi and Honan persisted.

The report that Government troops have reached Suichung does not make clear whether the place has been captured, but indicates a good pace in the advance. The town is half way to the port of Hulutao from Shanhaikwan and a third of the way to the important Communist base at Chinhsien.

If Government troops can take Hulutao, the port would be open for American ships to shuttle more Chungking forces to Manchuria. The Government troops are operating from Chinwangtao, the base to which they were taken by United States vessels after it had been taken by American marines.

The official Central News Agency still is making no report of the Government’s Manchuria advance, but the Communist office here said the Government troops were branching out west and north of Shanhaikwan for fifteen to twenty miles.

[Government forces have fanned out to Funing, thirty miles west of Shanhaikwan, and Shihmenchai, ten miles northwest, according to Communist sources, The United Press said.]

A good part of the Chungking mission to Manchuria has already been withdrawn and the members are now in Peiping and Chungking. Following the arrival here of Gen. Hsiung Shih-hui, head of the Generalissimo’s Headquarters for the Northeast, last week the Generalissimo’s son, Chiang Ching-kuo, special diplomatic representative with the mission, returned here yesterday. Chiang Kai-ngau, head of the economic commission to Manchuria and chairman of the Changchun Railway is understood to be in Peiping on his way here.

Officials here are reticent about the withdrawal from Changchun, but it is understood to be the result of the inability of the mission to accomplish the assignment of taking over the administration of Manchuria. The reason seems to be primarily the activities of the Communists. The Russians are understood to be taking the position that they are neutral and cannot suppress Communist activity and keep Manchuria secure pending the arrival of Government forces in strength.

The presence of strong Communist forces around Changchun is understood to be a deterrent to flying in Government forces there. It is feared the Government troops would not have time to consolidate before the Russian forces pulled out, leaving the Government units facing the Communists at a disadvantage. Presumably negotiations with the Russians regarding this problem are still going on.

The schedule for the Russian withdrawal from Manchuria calls for their evacuating the Changchun area soon and all of Manchuria by the first week of December. In effect the Russians in Manchuria are declining to do for the Government what the Americans have done in north China, to garrison and hold areas against the Communists until Government troops have arrived and consolidated their control.

The Communist spokesman here charged today that the Government was trying to impose its rule on Manchuria and that the will of the people there was not being taken into consideration. He said the proper procedure would be to form a popular government in Manchuria representing all interests. He said he knew little about Communist activities in Manchuria because the Chungking Communist office was cut off from communication with Manchuria.

The Yenan Communist radio denied reports that Communist troops had landed at Dairen and Port Arthur from Shantung.

The Communist attacks on Paotow, Kweisui and Tatung are understood to be going on amid heavy snows and bitter cold. The Yenan radio denied a Chungking report that the Communist troops in Suiyuan were equipped with heavy guns “from some other source” than the Japanese. The radio said the Communists had “never received arms from any foreign country.”

Although small Communist-Kuomintang clashes continue in Shansi, Honan and northern Kiangau, a lull seems settling over these areas on conflict. In a recent clash with puppet troops at Chiehho Station on the Tientsin-Pukow railway the Communists claim they wiped out a good part of an army.

The American policy in China was criticized today by a number of speakers at a public meeting here that was attended by several hundred representatives of business and educational and Democratic party leaders. The meeting was called to protest against the civil war and there were denunciations for both the Kuomintang and Communist party.

Dr. Lo Lung-chi, one of the Democratic League leaders, who is a graduate of Columbia University, charged that American aid in support of one party against another was contributing to civil war in China.

Honolulu Advertiser: Grave World Crisis Brews in North China Nov. 18, 1945

Honolulu Advertiser: Grave World Crisis Brews in North China
Sunday Morning, November 18, 1945. Page 1 and Page 10, Col. 8.

NEW YORK, Nov. 17 (UP) –Two developments tonight emphasize the international importance of the civil strife in China.

One is the decision of Lt. Gen. Albert C. Wedermeyer, commanding general of the U.S. forces there, to take armed action against a Communist-held village in northeastern China to prevent further attacks on American marines.

The other is the resentment, so far entirely unofficial, in Chungking against the Russian course in Manchuria.

Not Local Affair

Any tendency to regard the China trouble as a local affair which can be solved by the Chinese themselves without disturbing the world picture seems to be a grave mistake.

Russia and the United States already are directly involved. Both have troops in Chinese territory, although the Russians are now pulling out fast. The United States is openly supporting Generalissimo Chiang Kai-shek by every means short of actual fighting. The Russians, by negative action, are aiding the Communists in the north.

Gen. Wedermeyer’s announcement implies that United States forces soon may be drawn into the shooting.

That would be unfortunate, since it is not easy to isolate such an “incident” in a country torn by war.

Attitude Held Correct

Wedermeyer’s attitude is, of course. Technically correct.

American forces in North China have the sole avowed purpose of aiding in the disarmament and disbandment of the Japanese. If they are attacked, in the process, they must defend themselves.

Unfortunately, the Communists regard the American policy as out and out intervention and are bitter about it.

The Russian policy of non-intervention, if it can be called that, is much more subtle. The Russians like the United States have recognized and committed their support to the Chungking government. Yet the Russians are not giving their support to Chiang.

The Russians are withdrawing their troops from Manchuria in literal compliance with treaty terms, but in doing so are permitting the Chinese Communists to take vast stores of Japanese arms, munitions and supplies.

Minister of War Chen Cheng Enters Forbidden City: Nov. 18, 1945

On November 18, 1945 my father was in the Forbidden City. The photos featured here are from that day. All photos were taken by him.

One photo shows KMT troops entering the Forbidden City. Another shows Chiang Kai-shek’s Minister of War and his staff. His name, I believe, was Chen Cheng.

So far I have found very little information about him with the exception of this English-language profile on Wikipedia. I am not the fondest fan of Wikipedia, though in this case it provides a starting off place for further research. Go to this link for Chen Cheng’s biographical profile.

Chen Cheng was appointed by Generalissimo Chiang Kai-sek to serve as the Chief of the General Staff, a rank and title that sounds similar to a Chair of the Joint Chiefs of Staff in the American military. According to this source Chen implemented Chiang’s orders to attack areas controlled by the Communist Red Army. This apparently instigated the Chinese Civil War.

I have no idea yet why he was in the Forbidden City on November 18, 1945. His presence there occurred just after an incident in Chineangtao in which gunfire was exchanged between members of the 1st Marine Division and Red Army forces. No one was hurt or killed. The New York Times reported that a Communist spokesman justified the incident as necessary so long as American troops transported “Government troops” (KMT forces). The incident was reported in the November 18 edition of the New York Times. Again, I’d be interested in knowing where Chen Cheng was at the time.

Antique Shanghai Pop Music 1930-1949

While surfing the Internet and iTunes I came across this interesting web site. It features popular music centered in Shanghai from 1930 to 1949. Go to this link.

The site's owner and developer say this: "However, antique Shanghai pop music has the appeal to a certain sentimentality that is not only understood through the context of history; it can be thought as a discontinued school of aesthetics, a lost craft. Thus, I truly hope that something new will be introduced when I expose the potential joy of the music."

Among a number of things I desire to learn more about what U.S. Marines like my father and the Chinese listened to in terms of music. I would imagine that American pop music of that time was available, or was it? Did it all originate in Shanghai for distribution across China? My research continues. In the meantime enjoy the music and historical commentary.