THE 8 JULY CABLE SENT BY RED ARMY GENERALS TO SUNG CHE-YUAN AND OTHERS ON THE
JAPANESE OFFENSIVE AGAINST NORTH CHINA

8 July 1937

[Text] The honorable messrs Sung Ming-hsuan [1345 2494 6513] of Peiping,
Chang Tzu-chung [1728 5261 1813] of Tientsin, Liu Ju-ming [0491 3067 2494]
of Chang-chia-kou, and Peng Chih-an [7458 3112 1344] of Pao-ting:

The Japanese offensive has surprised and angered the nation, the courageous
and heroic opposition put up by the 29th Army in the Lukuochiao campaign has
become known throughout the country and the people are willing to back them
up. We boldly request the planning of all the armies to fight in defense of
Peiping and Tientsin and to protect North China. We shall not allow the
Japanese to occupy an inch of our country's territory and we shall shed the
last drop of our blood in its defense. The officers and soldiers of the
Red Army are filled with righteous anger and are prepared to march at any
given moment to follow your armies and engage the Japanese in a fight to
the death. Besides cabling Generalissimo Chiang and friendly armies to kill
the enemy, we specially submit this and await for your instructions.

Mao Tse-tung, Chu Teh, P'eng Teh-huai, Ha Lung, Lin Piao, Liu Po-ch'eng, and
Hsu Shang-ch'ien.

◦ Guide to the Anti-Japanese National United Front
Liberation Publishing House, April 1938

∗ "Liberation," Vol 11, 7 August 1938