2.
85
2. 197th division guarded railway from Hunan border to
vicinity of Hanyang. During journey officers and men of following
divisions were seen:- 21st division (going south) 52nd, 84th,
95rd, 166th and 187th divisions (various stations) 142nd, 153rd,
154th, 157th and 158th and 159th (on train) and 24th and 109th
divisions (Hankow).
3. At Chihfeng some eleven miles from Hankow troops were
seen digging trenches on low hills running on both sides of
the railway. Dump of barbed wire seen on station together with
men from 54th, 5th and 182nd divisions and 4th regiment of
artillery.
:
4. Same Chinese official mentioned in paragraph 1 informed
me that Chinese division in Shanghai fighting had lost between
60 to 70% of effectives. teps were now being taken to train
replacements but this would take at least six months. (Above
confirms that Chinese must have lost considerable war material
during fighting in Shanghai area;.
5.
I am of opinion that recent reports of major Chinese
successes on Tientsin-Pukow railway vicinity of Grand Canal
should be treated with considerable reserve. Minor successes
are probable owing to fact that Japanese have temporarily over-
run themselves.
nds.
Shanghai please repeat to General Staff.
Address d to Foreign Office No. 159 of April 6th, repeated to
Embassy Offices Shanghai, General Officer Commanding Hongkong
and Commander-in-Chief.