Evening star., 1945-03-04
Chang, Loyal to Allies,
Faces Complex Problems
Lack of Supplies, Opposition of Communists Petty
Graft Among Generals Combine to
Hamper War Against Japanese
By Constantine Broion

The Chinese government headed by
Generalissino Chang Kai-shek is the
target OF good deal of underground"
criticism from quarters usually close to
the administration in Washington.
The principal criticism is that China
is fighting only a halfhearted war
against Japan and shows no signs of de-
veloping large-scale offensive. Its best
forces, these critics say, are still con-
centrated on the Yenan border facing
the Communists while the Japanese are
conquering the best airdromes used by
Gen. Claire l.. Chennault's bombers in
their attacks on Japan. Even the raids
of the Chinese Communists against the
Japanese forces are more useful than
the perfunctory fight Chiang's gen.
erals have been making for the last
six months.
Moreover, the critics add, Chang has
become too politically minded and is
showing unwise stubbornness in his deal
ings with the Yenan Communist govern
ment in spite of the efforts of the
American representatives at Chung
king to bring the two parties together in
order to unity the Chinese government.
According to unbiased observers re-
Gently returned from China, this criti-
cism is baseless and overlooks the real
situation in that section of the coun-
try which is loyal to Chang.
Chang Remained Loyal.
1t is of paramount importance, the
observers say, to realize Chiang's 10y
atty to the United Nations and particu-
larly the United States Within the last
two years when things were going very
badly. Chang received many tempting
offers from the japanese to abandon
the Allied camp and become neutral
dictator of the whole of China by sign
ing peace agreement with Tokyo The
price he was asked to pay was the rec
ognition of the present status of Man
churia together with a formal dis
claimer of the Chinese republics rights
on that puppet state and his entering
the new order in Asia on the side of
Japan. In exchange, according to re-
liable reports, China would have been
restored as an independent republic,
with Japan having some exclusive"
privileges in the main ports of the Chi
nese mainland.
Although these propositions were made
at time when the military situation
Of the Allies in Europe was not entirely
satisfactory, Chang turned them down
and let it be known that he would fight
on the side of the Allies until final
victory.
The criticism that the Chinese armies
have been inefficient is factual. if We
do not stop to consider that they had
to fight with bare breasts and bayonets
against an excellently organized army
provided with the best of modern equip
ment.
Barred From Supplies.
Since the Allied defeat at Singapore
Malay and Burma, China has been shut
of from the rest Of the world. When
it is pointed out that China has mil
lions Of men available for the armed
in the country to equip them is some
times overlooked. There was no way of
sending lease-lend materials to Chinag's
divisions even if the United States had
enough to spare for an army of 1000, 900
or more men. The air route over the
Himalayas kept alive the hopes of the
Chinese for American support but it did
nothing more.
Out of about 10000 tons a month
which were flown over the hump by the
Air Transport Command at least 70
per cent of the supplies were given to
Gen. Chennault to keep his planes going,
The remaining five or six thousand tons
were not much more than a drop in
the bucket for the small Chinese Army
which was facing Japanese tanks,
planes and the most up-to-date war
material.
Unbiased observers who have re-
turned from Chungking are wondering
how Chang has been able to keep to-
gether the forces he still has, consid-
ering the lack of equipment and the
scarcity of food and other necessities
for the armed forces and civilians.
Ties Up 100000 Japs.
There is good deal of talk about the
graft in Chiangs immediate and re-
mote encourage. There is no question
that ethics, as understood in the United
States, cannot be applied to an Asiatic
country even if it carries the pompous
title of democracy" Had Chang not
shut his eyes to the various details of
his officials and particularly some of the
generals, 1t is questionable whether he
could have kept their support Chang
himself never has been accused of taking
advantage Of the situation to improve
his own estate. But he knows his peo-
pie well and realizes that unless graft
is tolerated his sway over the territories
which are recognizing him will be
short-lived
Nevertheless, it is emphasized that
the mere fact that he has not sue
cumbed to the Tokyo offers has COM
PEELED the japanese to use large
force e-about 100000 men-chasing the
Chinese toward Chungking. Had this
not been the case no one knows how
and against whom the Japanese may
have used their continental armies, Had
the generalissimo listened to the over
lures made to him in 1914, almost i'm
mediately after the Teheran confer
ence, and agreed to change sides the
Japs might have had sufficient forces
to attack the Russians in Siberia and
occupy at least the Maritime Provinces.
The Maritime Provinces at that time