ACTIVITIES OF CHINESE COMMUNIST '350 UNIT', LINHAI AND HANGCHOW

Document Type: 
Collection: 
Document Number (FOIA) /ESDN (CREST): 
CIA-RDP80-00810A003800020003-5
Release Decision: 
RIPPUB
Original Classification: 
C
Document Page Count: 
2
Document Creation Date: 
December 19, 2016
Document Release Date: 
April 5, 2006
Sequence Number: 
3
Case Number: 
Publication Date: 
March 11, 1954
Content Type: 
REPORT
File: 
AttachmentSize
PDF icon CIA-RDP80-00810A003800020003-5.pdf96.12 KB
Body: 
Approved For Release 2006/05/24: CIA-RDP80-00810A003800020003-5 CENTRAL INTELLIGENCE AGENCY INFORMATION REPORT CONFIDENTIAL/ This Document contains information affecting the Na- tional Defense of the United States, within the mean- ing of Title 18, Sections 793 and 794, of the U.S. Code, as amended. Its transmission or revelation of its contents to or receipt by an unauthorized person is prohibited by law. The reproduction of this form is prohibited. Activities of Chinese Communist "350 Unit",DATE DISTR. Linhai and Hangchow NO. OF PAGES 11 March 195+ 1. On 29 November 1953 Chinese Communist soldiers shopping in Linhai (N 28-52, E 121-06) market places carried bamboo poles marked with the number "350"0 Many well dressed Chinese Communist officers were also on the streets of Linhai. On 30 November a Chinese Communist military installation consisting of old two-story cement buildings surrounded by a six-foot mud wall was next to the Ching (01+02) Temple in southeast Hangchow. Four black jeeps and three black sedans with military plates were parked in front of the installation compound. Chinese Communist troops were living in civilian houses adjacent to the installation. Baskets, bamboo poles, and cooking utensils in front, of these houses were marked with the. number "350". 3. On 1 December Chinese Communist troops carrying cooking utensils marked with the number "350" passed the bus station at Hsiaoshan (N 30-10., E 120-07). Forty Soviet-made military trucks were parked on a 500-yard long parade ground on the highway one mile east of Hsiaoshan. Three artillery pieces covered with canvas were at the edge of the parade grounds and twenty newly constructed buildings of rock and cement, each 30 feet long and ten feet high, were around the edge of the grounds. Comment. The reporting of the code number "350" casts considerable doubt on the credibility of this otherwise apparently legitimate report. This designation does not conform to the code system believed currently in use in East China nor does it appear a likely designation for any of the army or public security units currently accepted in Chekiang (the 20 and 22 Armies and the 16, 17, and 19 Public Security Divisions). It is probably intended to designate the 35 Army, a former Chekiang unit which is believed to have been inac- CONFIDENTIAL/CONTROL - U0S OFFICIALS ONLY 25X1 Approved For Release 2006/05/24: CIA-RDP80-00810A003800020003-5 Approved For Release 2006/05/24: CIA-RDP80-0081OA003800020003-5 CONFIDENTIAL/CONTROL - U.S. OFFICIALS ONLY tivated and converted into the East China 17 and 19 Public Security Divisions over a year ago. While it is possible that troops of these two public security divisions, which are in the Linhai-Wenchou area of Chekiang, may still have equipment with old 35 Army markings the appearance of such markings near Hangehow is unlikely. It should be noted that other Nationalist connected sources have continued to report the 35 Army as an active field force unit in the Eangchou area. CONFIDENTIAL/CONTROL - U.S. OFFICIALS ONLY Approved For Release 2006/05/24: CIA-RDP80-0081OA003800020003-5