Enemy Situation and the Disposition of the 115th Division[1]

(March 3, 1938)

Chen and Luo, and inform Zhu and Peng[2]:

A. The enemy at Xiaoyi, encountering no resistance, proceeded directly to Shilou and occupied it, and has advanced to Yidie Township[3], with the possibility of raiding Jundu. Wang Jingguo’s[4] troops have withdrawn toward Zhongyang. The enemy at Jixian is pressing close to Gedantan[5], with the possibility of raiding the Yanchang ferry crossing. It is assessed that the enemy’s objective is to drive out the Jin Army, forcibly seize the ferry crossings, blockade the Yellow River, cut off the national army’s supply and communication rear routes, and threaten Yan’an.

B. Under these circumstances, the disposition of the 115th Division should probably place the division headquarters directly in the Yonghe, Daning, and Xixian area to mobilize the populace, coordinate with all sides, deploy one regiment with Jixian as the center to conduct vertical and horizontal raids against the enemy in that locality, deploy another regiment to advance into the Shilou area to raid the enemy in the Shilou and Yidie vicinity, while the Xiao Detachment[6] remains in the Damai Jiao area. Only in this way can coordination with the Hexi troops be achieved to consolidate the river defenses. If the operations are appropriate, the enemy can be trapped in the several towns of Shilou, Yidie, Jixian, and Xiangning, without provisions and without reinforcements,

[1] This is a telegram from Mao Zedong to Chen Guang, acting commander of the 115th Division of the Eighth Route Army, and Luo Ronghuan, director of its Political Department.

[2] Zhu and Peng refer to Zhu De and Peng Dehuai.

[3] Yidie Township, a town name, located in the western part of Shilou County, Shanxi Province.

[4] Wang Jingguo, then served as Commander-in-Chief of the 13th Group Army and concurrently Commander of the 19th Army of the Nationalist Army’s Second War Zone.

[5] Gedantan, located in the eastern part of Yichuan County, Shaanxi Province.

[6] Xiao Detachment refers to the Anti-Japanese Advance Column of the 115th Division of the Eighth Route Army, with Xiao Hua serving as commander and concurrently political commissar.

compelling them to withdraw, whereupon we can take advantage of their withdrawal to annihilate them. What is your opinion? Awaiting your reply.

Mao

24:00, the 3rd