Neglecting the control of Yingkou is a rather serious misstep[1]

(October 25, 1948)

Lin, Luo, Liu, and inform the Northeast Bureau:

Your telegram of 25th at 9:00[2] noted. (1) That you beforehand completely failed to estimate that the enemy would use Yingkou as one of their retreat routes, and even after we pointed this out in several telegrams, you still, based on the unconfirmed information about the 52nd Army’s westward advance, neglected the control of Yingkou, thereby allowing elements of the 52nd Army to occupy Yingkou on the 24th, is a rather serious misstep. (2) Apart from inserting the 6th Column to the east of Heishan and Dahushan[3] to cut off the enemy’s retreat route, do you have any other columns in the area east and southeast of Heishan and Dahushan? You must fully estimate that the enemy may retreat toward Yingkou at any time; without sufficient forces, it will be difficult to block the enemy’s retreat route. Your main force is descending from the direction of Fuxin and Xinlitun[4]. If the enemy masses together and moves eastward from Dahushan, and there are no heavy troops on the front to block and strike them, the effect of a pincer attack cannot be achieved,
then there is the possibility that all or most of the enemy may flee to Yingkou. (3) Where are the various independent divisions from Changchun now? We believe these independent divisions should rapidly advance southward by forced marches via the vicinity of Tieling, recover Yingkou, Niuzhuang,[1] and Haicheng, and position their main force between Dahushan and Yingkou to coordinate with your main force in a pincer attack on the enemy. (4) We await information on your entire disposition.

Central Military Commission

25th, 18:00 hours

[1] Niuzhuang, a town, is located in the western part of Haicheng County, Liaoning Province.

--- Notes

This telegram was drafted by Mao Zedong for the Central Military Commission of the CPC Central Committee and addressed to Lin Biao, Commander of the Northeast Field Army, Luo Ronghuan, Political Commissar, and Liu Yalou, Chief of Staff.

[2] Refers to the telegram sent by Lin Biao, Luo Ronghuan, and Liu Yalou to the Central Military Commission of the CPC Central Committee at 9:00 on October 25, 1948. The telegram stated: “(1) Elements of the enemy’s 52nd Army occupied Haicheng and Niuzhuang on the 23rd, and yesterday (the 24th) already occupied Yingkou. We have only local armed forces in southern Liaoning; the Liaonan Independent 2nd Division was already unable to occupy Yingkou first. (2) One of our independent divisions yesterday already inserted itself south of Tieling and is engaging the enemy. Our 12th Column can encircle Tieling this morning, with the intention of tying down the enemy. (3) Yesterday, elements of the New 6th Army, the 71st Army, and one brigade of the 207th Division each launched attacks on our positions at Heishan and Dahushan, making four charges, all of which were repulsed. (4) Our 6th Column can today insert itself into the area east of Heishan and Dahushan to cut off the enemy’s retreat route; all other columns are successively advancing, first to seize hold of the enemy.”

[3] Dahushan, now named Dahu Mountain, is located in the southern part of Heishan County, Liaoning Province.

[4] Xinlitun, a town, is located in the northern part of Heishan County, Liaoning Province.