Postponing the Attack on Tanggu to Early Next Month Is Advisable[1]

(December 26, 1948)

Lin and Liu:

(1) The report forwarded from the Seventh Column[2] has been noted. (2) Please investigate whether Dagu and Tanggu will soon freeze over, and whether it will be possible to attack Tanggu from the sea after they freeze. (3) It seems advisable to postpone the attack on Tanggu to early next month.

The Military Commission

5:00 a.m., the 26th

--- Notes

[1] This is a telegram drafted by Mao Zedong for the Central Military Commission of the Communist Party of China, addressed to Lin Biao, Commander of the Northeast Field Army, and Liu Yalou, Chief of Staff.


[2] Refers to the telegram forwarded by Lin Biao and Liu Yalou to the Central Military Commission on December 25, 1948, reporting the Seventh Column’s assessment of the terrain at Tanggu and the timing of the attack. The telegram stated that the terrain at Tanggu presented the following conditions: 1. With the Bohai Sea to the east and the Hai River to the south, we are unable to encircle the enemy on all sides; the enemy can resist stubbornly with their backs to the sea, making it truly difficult to cut off their retreat and annihilate them completely. 2. There are many rivers and ditches; apart from existing bridges on the railway, highway, and a small path east of the railway, passage elsewhere is not easy, while the enemy can hold their positions relying on these rivers and ditches. 3. South of the Beiping-Liaoning Railway there are intermittent buildings, which are relatively easy to approach. The area from the northwest all the way to the seashore consists of grassland and salt pans, vast and flat, which is inconvenient for troop deployment and assault. 4. The terrain north of the urban streets is very poor, making it difficult to cut off the retreat of the enemy within the city and to separate the enemy at Xingang. 5. There are also many rivers, ditches, and ponds within the urban area, and many intermittent open spaces among the streets, which facilitate the enemy’s adoption of in-depth strongpoint dispositions. 6. The current operational situation requires attacking Tanggu, and doing so quickly, but judging from the terrain, it is very difficult to attack; thorough preparations are essential. A hasty and rash approach would result in a reckless battle, such as a beach fight costing heavy casualties, taking a very long time, and still failing to annihilate the enemy. As this is our first major battle after entering the pass, we must act with prudence and make full preparations. The Second Column, Ninth Column, and artillery must all complete assembly by tomorrow; therefore, it is advisable to postpone the attack to the end of the month, and preferably to early next month.