Stilwell and the American Experience in China, 1911-45
General Connor’s report: 15 Jun 26, NA, RG 94, Box 483.
“The most military looking man”: Finney, 122.
Marshall’s dinner party: Mrs. Stilwell to author.
Marshall to Pershing: 26 Dec 26, qtd. Pogue, I, 243.
Butler’s reply to press: qtd. Powell, 146.
“The whirlwinds were gathering”: Buck, 208.
MacMurray quoted: USFR 1927, 164–68.
“Red Wave on the Yangtze”: title of a series by Putnam Weale in the North China Daily News, qtd. Powell, 144.
“Peasants will rise like a tornado”: qtd. Clubb, 135.
Raid on the Soviet Embassy: Clubb, 136.
Kellogg quoted: 18 and 25 Apr 27, USFR 1927, 205, 210–11.
Coolidge speech: qtd. Borg*, 423.
Joseph Grew quoted: USFR 1927, 201.
Borah quoted: Borg*, 190.
Castner asks for reinforcements: 10 Apr 27, NA, RG 94, China File Box 483.
“If a Marine so much”: Thomas, 291.
Credentials: In requesting credentials for Stilwell from General Chu Yu-pu, Commander-in-Chief for the Preservation of Peace and Order in Chihli Province, General Castner gave as the ostensible purpose of his mission that he was to meet Senator Hiram Bingham of Connecticut, then visiting China, and escort him to Tientsin (Carmel A-4). This has survived in the archives as the reason for Stilwell’s journey to Hsuchow, although Senator Bingham, who was then in the Yangtze area, could not at this time have traveled north by rail. Stilwell met him subsequently in Tientsin when Bingham reached north China, traveling probably by ship from Shanghai.
Chang Tsung-chang’s attributes: Abend, 65; Holcombe, 101; Barrett, “Soldiers of Fortune.”
White Russians: Finney, 123–24; Barrett, “Soldiers of Fortune.”
Stilwell’s report on mission: to CG USAFC, 16 Jun 27, NA, RG 94, 40 China; also in Carmel A-4.
MacMurray’s and Castner’s commendation: MacMurray’s was added to Castner’s official commendation, 2 Jul 27, 201 File.
Chiang Kai-shek’s proposals of marriage: Snow, Journey, 85.
Chiang–Soong wedding: Hahn, 140–42.
Chang Tso-lin prepares to be Emperor: Abend, 57; Stuart, 110–11.
Castner’s forced marches: report by Castner to WD, 12 Dec 27, NA, RG 94, China File Box 483; also Gens. Boatner and Timberman to author.
“One of the most popular officers”: Sentinel, 25 May 28.
“Brilliant and incisive”: Finney, 133.
“Strategic retreat”: Sentinel, 20 Apr 28.
“Unbearable sting”: qtd. in one (11 May 28) of a series of reports to Stilwell on political developments from an informant signing himself “Interpreter”; Carmel A-6.
Chang Tso-lin retreats with rolling stock: ibid., 2 Jun 28; also Finney, 134.
“Thunderous silence”: Col. Barrett to author.
“The new disorder of things”: George Atcheson, Jr., to Hornbeck, 4 Jul 28, HP, File “Atcheson, G.”
Handball championship: Sentinel, 13 Apr 29.
6. “VINEGAR JOE,” 1929–35
“Intense desire to get my hands”: Pogue, I, 251.
“Move, shoot and communicate”: Gen. Timberman, interview with author.
“Wicked memory”: K. Marshall, 9.
Infantry Journal: Stilwell’s articles: “Caterpillar or Scorpion,” November–December 1932; “Annual Maneuvers at Benning,” July–August 1933; “Counsel for the Defense,” Cavalry Journal, March–April 1933.
“A genius for instruction” and Marshall’s other judgments: Efficiency Report for July 1929–June 1930, 201 File.
Wells’ letter: 6 Mar 46, written with reference to a newspaper photograph of Stilwell at the surrender on the Missouri, Carmel B-19.
Missionary story: obituary in Baltimore Sun, 13 Oct 46.
“Close to a misanthrope”: Gen. Roberts, interview with author.
“Mumbles in its beard”: Gen. Betts, interview with author.
Marshall asked three times by Commandant to relieve Stilwell: Marshall interview with R&S, 6 Jul 49.
Marshall’s Efficiency Reports: 30 Jun 31 and 15 Jun 32, in 201 File.
“Forced…into a bitter rebellion”: from a report based on three years’ study of the Chinese press, 1930–32; Clubb, Communism in China as Reported from Hankow in 1932 (New York, Columbia Univ. Press, 1968).
Emperor wanted Inukai to curb Army: Storry, 109.
Something “wonderful” for world peace: Morison, 375.
Tardieu, “a long way off”: ibid., 370.
“Dumped” or “deposited,” etc.: ibid., 376, n. 14.
“Sticking pins in tigers”: Morison, 382.
Stimson quoted: Far Eastern Crisis, 88–90.
“Did nothing to show the shame”: Morison, 390, n. 35.
“Soft and pudgy,” etc.: Diary, 11, 12 and 15 Feb 32, qtd. Ferrell, 248.
Prince Kung: Fairbank, Reischauer and Craig, 174.
“Brad, why do you want to go”: Gen. Bradley, interview with author.
“He took us seriously”: Paul Jones to author.
“We have never received better instruction”: letter of Imperial Valley Chapter of Reserve Officers Assn., 6 Oct 34, Carmel A-10.
Marshall “tired of seeing mediocrity”: letter of 31 Oct 34, qtd. Pogue, I, 285.
“How intensely interesting”: letter of Col. L. D. Gassner, C/S, IVth Corps Area, 11 Jan 35, Carmel A-10.
Hull, a “respectful and friendly spirit”: qtd. Borg*, 523.
7. MILITARY ATTACHÉ: CHINA’S LAST CHANCE, 1935–37
General Han Fu-chu in Shantung: Abend, 221.
General Sung Che-yuan and the Japanese: Snow, Battle, 10–14; Bisson, 3.
T. V. Soong to Abend: Abend, 215.
“Dead but not buried”: ibid., 225.
Half the people died before thirty: White, Thunder, xix; Winfield, 112.
Hupeh, five changes of governor, etc.: Li Tsung-jen, #41, 12–14.
Mme. Kung’s commission, and profits with Mme. Chiang: Peck to “Colleagues,” 19 Mar 36, HP, File “Peck”; also Peck to Hornbeck, 24 Feb 36, Johnson Papers, vol. 38.
Johnson on Soong: MemCon with J. Lossing Buck, 13 May 38, ibid.
Johnson’s motto: Snow, Journey, 150.
“Every bit of leadership” and “cold-blooded act”: to Hornbeck, 31 Jul 35 and 13 Jul 36, HP, File “Johnson”; also in Johnson Papers, vol. 24.
Japan’s smuggling campaign: Powell, 288–89.
“Too late, too late”: to Hornbeck, 24 Feb 36, Johnson Papers, vol. 28.
“Forces them to use force”: to Hornbeck, 3 Dec 35, Johnson Papers, vol. 24.
Myth of the China market: Griswold, 469.
Cadogan quoted: MemCon, 4 Mar 35, Johnson Papers, vol. 38.
“Two elements in Japan”: Hull, I, 276.
Hull’s year-end statement: NYT, 5 Dec 35.
The December demonstration and rise of nationalist resistance: Bisson, 71; Snow, Journey, 144–45; Borg**, 159–62.
Preparations in Szechwan: Hornbeck mem, 5 Mar 36, HP, File, “Armed Forces.”
Chiang sent word to Johnson: Johnson to Hornbeck, 19 Oct 36, HP, File “Johnson.”
“You are probably the only one”: letter of Tam Sai-fan of Standard Oil Vacuum Co., 24 May 36, Carmel A-11.
“No evidence of planned defense”: USFR 1936, 223.
Chang Hsueh-liang’s private plane: Leonard, 51, 164.
Stilwell’s report on Manchuria: 18 Sep 36, USFR 1936, 301–302.
Hull’s reply, “interested in peace”: mem by Hull, 2 Oct 36, ibid., 330–31.
Stilwell’s report on Chinese officer’s proposal: 13 Jul 36, Carmel A-11.
Communists’ campaign in Shansi: Griffith, 48.
Stilwell’s report on Shansi: G-2 No. 9322, 13 Mar 36, Carmel A-12.
Shanghai Evening Post and Mercury: qtd. Borg**, 213.
Colonel Lynch’s report: NA, RG 94, China File 1926–29, Box 481.
Ringwalt’s report: qtd. Borg**, 205.
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Mao’s talk with Snow: Red Star, 455.
Russia’s role in saving Chiang: Snow, Random Notes, 1–2; Powell, 276. For other accounts of the kidnapping see Bertram, passim, and Snow, Red Star.
Washington’s reaction: Borg**, 530.
Johnson’s reports on Sian: 11 May 37 and 25 Jun 37, USFR 1937, 87, 122. Stilwell’s report is G-2 No. 9510, 25 Jan 37.
General Sugiyama quoted: from Japan Advertiser, 20 May 37, qtd. Bisson, 2.
“Knows China and the Far East better…than any other officer”: letter to Col. Fay W. Brabson, 9 Jul 37, Carmel A-12.
8. MILITARY ATTACHÉ: SINO-JAPANESE WAR, 1937–39
All correspondence relating to Stilwell’s dispute with MID is in Carmel files A-12–17 and B-10.
Boatride on Pei Hai Lake: Goette, 3–4.
“So that the world would get a true picture”: Col. Barrett to author.
Chiang’s proclamation: qtd. Bisson, 21.
Bugles sounded in Peiping: Snow, Battle, 16–18.
Japanese bombing of Nankai University: Peking and Tientsin Times, qtd. Bisson, 33–34.
Japanese savagery at Paoting: ibid., 279–80, 294.
Chiang’s motives at Shanghai: Li Tsung-jen, #33, 9–10, 15, and #34, 13; Liu, 147; Abend, 245–46.
“The tragedy of the retreat”: Li Tsung-jen, #33, 9–10.
One of the most memorable war pictures: Life, 4 Oct 37.
Hirota’s speech and other Japanese statements: HP, File “Japan Official Statements 1930s–40s” and File “China’s Relations with Japan, 1930s.”
Taylor on Stilwell: Gen. Taylor, interview with author.
Chinese soldiers pushing train: ibid.
“Amoral drift”: speech of 25 Apr 35, qtd. Stimson-Bundy, 311–12.
A navy “so strong”: Hull, I, 456.
Delano history: Crow, Foreign Devils, 21–27; Dennett, 579, 588; Kleeman, 21–22; Gunther, Roosevelt, 87.
Chinese furnishings at Hyde Park: Elizabeth B. Drewry to author.
Roosevelt told Moley: Moley, 95.
Conferred with Stimson: Welles, 67; Stimson-Bundy, 302.
“Even more incensed”: Welles, 8, 69.
Carlson, “mutual confidence” and “mature graciousness”: Twin Stars, 276, 130.
Carlson’s letters to FDR: FDRL, PPF-4951 “Carlson.”
“From the heart,” “love of liberty,” etc.: Carlson, Twin Stars, 158.
Isolationist letters: HP, mem, 30 Sep 37, File “China, Relations with Japan, 1930s.”
“It’s a terrible thing”: Rosenman, 167.
Sack of Nanking: Varg, Missionaries, 257–60; Powell, 297–98; Pelissier, 380; Snow, Battle, 56–59.
Chiang on “ultimate victory”: qtd. Bisson, 289.
Peace overtures: Johnson to Hornbeck, 2 Mar 38, HP, File “Johnson 1938”; also Bisson, 336.
Johnson, “The present Chinese Government”: to Hornbeck, 2 Mar 38, HP, File “Johnson 1938.”
Roosevelt considered seizing Japanese assets: Blum, I, 486.
Showdown should be postponed: Welles, 74.
Ludlow Resolution: Hull, I, 563–64.
“Doing the right thing”: NYT, 8 Feb 38.
Belden “sad, ragged, torn”: John Davies to author.
Agnes Smedley on Stilwell: Smedley, 207.
Carlson “disgusted”: to FDR, 23 Sep 38, FDRL, loc. cit.
Johnson on Carlson’s toast and Chinese attitude: to Hornbeck, 22 Mar 38, HP, File “Johnson 1938.”
Mme. Chiang on “real power”: Gen. Dorn, who was a guest at the tea party, to author.
Lanchow mission: preliminary correspondence and Stilwell’s report, 16 Apr 38, “Observations at Lanchow,” in Carmel A-13; Welles, MemCon with FDR, 25 Feb and 4 Mar 38, FDRL, PSF “China 1938–40”; also in this file, WD mem, 20 Apr 38, on Stilwell’s report; also Hull to Johnson, 15 Jun 38.
Taierchuang, “mad with joy” and “battle cries”: Li Tsung-jen, #35, 24.
Casualties: G-2 report by Dorn, 10 Apr 38, Carmel A-13.
Falkenhausen “tearing his hair”: Carlson, 152.
Stilwell’s interview with Li Tsung-jen: Li Tsung-jen, #36, 13.
Yellow River dikes blown at Chengchow: Forman, 246–48; Belden, Time to Die, 179.
European observer on missionary impact: qtd. Steele, 54.
Missionary Review of the World: September 1938, qtd. Varg, 255.
“There are no Communists left”: qtd. Snow, Journey, 229.
Carlson, “whether Eastern Asia”: Twin Stars, 301.
Opinion polls: Bailey, Man in the Street, 9.
Hull refused T. V. Soong: Blum, I, 219.
Buck to Morgenthau: “Interview with Colonel Stilwell,” Hankow, 30 Aug 38, Morgenthau Diary, vol. 138, unpub., FDRL.
Morgenthau, “a bare chance”: Blum, I, 510, 527.
Tilly Hoffman’s report: to Barrett, n.d., Carmel A-13.
A “people’s defense” of Hankow: Chalmers Johnson, 36–38; for other sources on the siege, see Snow, Battle, 105; Smedley, 227–35.
Stilwell’s report summarizing the war: G-2 No. 6900, 25 Sep 38 and No. 9702, 17 Nov 38, Carmel A-14.
“Completely let down”: Johnson to Hornbeck, 9 Jan 39, HP, File “Johnson.”
Chiang’s message to Roosevelt: Hornbeck to Hull, conveying message from Chinese Ambassador, 18 Oct 38, HP, File “Chiang Kai-shek.”
“Reforming its personnel”: New York Herald Tribune, 3 Nov 38.
Wang Ching-wei’s mission: Li Tsung-jen, #37, 13.
“Failed to awaken”: New York Herald Tribune, 7 Nov 38.
Japanese “have begun to feel”: ibid.
Removal to west China: White, Thunder, 57–59.
G-2 report on Chiang Kai-shek: No. 9716, 24 Jan 39, Carmel A-17.
Meeting with Chennault: Chennault, 85–86 (who mistakenly dates the meeting in the following winter when Stilwell was no longer in China).
Stilwell’s visit to General Okamura: Gen. Munson to author.
Craigie “utterly weary”: Abend, 33.
Drowned body in the river: Mrs. Clubb to author.
Promotion: officially dated 5 Aug 39. In a postwar interview with R&S (13 Jul 49), Marshall said he had promoted Stilwell over the protests of McCabe, who had wanted to remove him as Military Attaché. Marshall was “not impressed by the very elegant set of stuffed shirts” in McCabe’s circle and put little credence in the validity of McCabe’s derogatory Efficiency Reports on Stilwell.
Congratulatory letters: major of Infantry—Thomas Austin; colonel of Artillery—Leroy Collins; officer of ONI, signature illegible, letter dated Quantico 9 Aug 39; all, with many others, in Carmel B-11.
Part Two
Stilwell’s Diary and its Supplements are the basic source for the events, meetings, discussions, decisions and disputes in which he participated, as well as for his quoted comments thereon. Since this may be taken for granted, they are cited only when the source might not be obvious or when the circumstance is of special significance. For the period covered by Part Two much of this material has been published, or quoted in published form, either in the volumes by Romanus and Sunderland or in The Stilwell Papers edited by Mr. White. Where a reference seemed indicated, I have cited the published version where it exists, for the convenience of the reader.
9. THE RUSH TO PREPARE, 1939–41
Army ranked 19th: World Almanac for 1938, 706.
“Status of that of a third rate power”: Marshall’s Biennial Report, 1939–41, 16–18.
Thayer, “to make good soldiers”: qtd. Dupuy, 124.
“Good eating”: Col. Trevor Dupuy, who was present, to author.
Footnote: Peck to Hornbeck, 28 Mar 26; Ringwalt to Peck, 5 Apr 36; HP, File “Peck.”
Grew, “pressure for an embargo”: Grew, 299.
Judd’s speeches: Varg, Missionaries, 271.
“Resolutely backed up by naval force”: Committee on East Asia, Bulletin 28, November 1940, qtd. Varg, ibid., 262.
Grew’s public speech in Tokyo:
Grew, 300.
Knox, “unthinkable”: Langer and Gleason*, 471.
Third Army maneuvers in Louisiana: NYT, 7 and 26 May 40; Newsweek, 13 May 40; also Lt. Francis G. Smith, History of the Third Army, Study No. 17, Historical Section, AGF, 1946.
“One of the most amazing encirclements”: T. A. Price, staff correspondent of The News (not otherwise identified), 10 May 40, Carmel Scrapbook.
Chief umpire’s critique: Army and Navy Journal, 1 Jun 40, 962.
Divisional commander’s bet: Eisenhower, 8.
General Strong predicted: qtd. Snell, 74.
General Tojo: qtd. Langer and Gleason**, 28.
“Uniting of all these regions”: Langer and Gleason*, 603.
“He would be ruined in any case”: Linebarger, 267.
“Cold-blooded”: Gen. Arms to author. In contrast, Dean Rusk, who served in Delhi HQ of CBI, thought that one of Stilwell’s faults as a commander was that he was too kindly to incompetents if they were loyal: “He didn’t have ice in his veins like Marshall” (interview with author).
“You had to; he had it”: Col. Harris Wiltamuth (7th Division) to author.
“Black cat” talk: Eldridge (PR officer for 7th Division), 21.
Falkenhausen on Japanese: qtd. Carlson, Twin Stars, 151.
Carlson’s comments: ibid., 31–32, 275, 301–302.
Colonel Mott: Mott, 103.
“Predatory powers”: qtd. Iriye, 207.
United States “would be drawn into”: Stimson-Bundy, 366.
“All four agreed”: ibid., Sherwood, 397.
Admiral Yamamoto: A. Russell Buchanan, The United States and World War II (New York, Harper, 1964) I, 37.
Japanese begin planning Pearl Harbor: ibid.
Chiang asks for air force: telegrams of 18, 20, 23 Oct 40, qtd. Langer and Gleason**, 296–97.
Communists “taking advantage”: Johnson to State, 20 Oct 40, qtd. R&S*, 9.
“Three all” principle: Chalmers Johnson, 57–59. (This book contains much valuable material on the Japanese occupation and the hatred it engendered in the Chinese populace.)
Chennault’s meeting with Mme. Chiang: Chennault, 4.
Soong’s requirements for air force: R&S*, 13–15.
“Counteroffensive I am preparing”: Langer and Gleason**, 303.