The daily monitor. (Mount Clemens, Mich.) 1940-1942, 1941-06-04
China


NNVusAuuoo Stvm xS8e ~
fight against Japan.
WILL RELEASE PILOTS
Army heads In Washington
last Saturday issued . brief an
nouncement that members OF
the United States Air Corps
would be permitted to join the
Chinese army.
Some sources believe that the
announcement was the first step
for the nations active participa-
ton into q shooting war;. One
Air Corps officer was quoted
as saying "it won't be any pic
mic for the American filters.
Some of them will die"
It has been stated that a large
number of filters and enlisted
men will leave q west coast port
in the next few weeks "as civil
ians bound for China"
Brig. General Clagett, recent
ly transferred from Selfridge to
the Philippines, is reported to
have sailed for Chungking re-
Gently. With him are other high
Air Corps officials and admins
trative officers.
However, just what part the
government will play in the Far
Eastern situation will have to
remain, at least temporarily, a
subject of speculation. But, it is
more or less certain that Amer
leans will see service in China,
even if it is a volunteer project.
SUBJECT TO RECALL ~
1t has been said that all Off
GERS and men who resign will
be subject to recall by the Unit
ed States whenever needed. It
was also said that those that 60
will not lose their American
seniority upon return.
If all these factors are true,
then it is quite apparent that
the men have received "the
blessings" of the American
army.
Other developments that indi-
cate the nation, at least unoffi-
cially, will play an important
role in the Far East include:
Heavy transfers of planes
and personnel from this country
to the Philippines, Americas
eastern outpost"
2-Promised aid to China that
American aid would reasonably
include airplanes.
3 - Increased interest in
Washington on the Far Eastern
situation.
4-President Roosevelt's indi-
cation that increased aid will
be given to China in the near
future.
But, these are obvious facts
and do not indicate the reason
behind the rumored resigna-
tions.
VARIETY OF REASONS
Informed sources believe that
any number of reasons could be
behind the army's action.
For one thing, it is possible
that such service in China would
be "a practice session for U. S.
pilots.
It might also mean that the
government would like some
actual comparison between the
improved abilities of the Amer
lean filters and the Germans who
are known to be aiding Japan.
TEST-GROUNDS
In other words, the Chinese
battlefronts may be turned into
a testing ground" for this ma
tons pilots.
However, on the other hand.
the Washington announcement
of last Saturday indicated that
ground crews and enlisted men
would accompany the filters.
This would possibly mean
that, along with the planes, the
United States is planning on CIV
ing China "active aid" in her
fight against aggression. 1t might
also mean the first step in a
shooting war"
CHINESE SILENT
Just what part the American
fighting units will play in China
is a matter of conjecture alone.
Chinese officials have remained
silent throughout the develop.
ments, declining even to COM
ment on whether or not the U.
S. pilots would be used as train
ers of Chinese filters.
One speculation was that the
u. S. filters would take over
the commercial lines in that
country and would take no ac-
tive part in the conflict.
Another guess was that the
entire action would be used only
as a warning" against Japan
and Germany that the United
States is ready to fight for her
beliefs.
Still another possibility was
that the group would be on a
survey trip in which the gov
eminent hopes to learn the
strength Of the japanese forces
and to learn the geography OF
ground where the American pi-
lots may some day have to fight
IL this nation does take active
part in the conflict.