Evening star., 1945-12-29
Plan 10 Increase
u. 5. Troops in
China Revealed
Wedemeyer Says Aid
In Munchuriu Makes
More Men Necessary
By the Associated Press,

By the Associated Press.
SHANGHAI, Dec. 29.-Lt. Gen
Albert c. Wedemeyer, com.
mander of American forces il
China, said today that plan.
are under consideration to NOV,
additional (Chinese) Armies K
Manchuria," and more American
Army troops would be needed tt
accompany them, supervise de
barkation, handle supply prob
lens and give other aid.
This, he told news conference
is in line with Americas newl,
broadened policy of aid to the ma
tional government of Generalissim,
Chang Kai-shek. And, he added. i
is one reason why American Arm,
personnel in China should be bull
up to 10000 or $1,000 men, ever
though it would mean bringing ar
additional 5000 to 1000 from Amer.
lea or from other military theaters.
He used the phrase Army per.
sonnet" not mentioning an esti-
mated $4,000 Marines now control
ling several vital centers in North
China.
Need More Chinese Troops.
Asked specifically whether he
thought more Chungking (NationaD
forces would have to be transported
to Manchuria, Gen. Wedemeyer saio
II do think additional forces have
to be transported, in order to re-
patriate japanese in Manchuria anc
secure rail and port facilities tc
make this Tepatriation) possible 1t
is vast area. as large as the United
States"
He did not specify whether the
Chinese would be carried north
by sea or by air.
Other reasons for increasing the
strength of American Army person.
mel in China, he said, are the
necessity of guarding American
equipment in the theater; the or
ganizing of military advisory
group-a permanent, non-opera
tional body of more than 1000 mer
headed initially by Gen. Wedemeyel
himself, and repatriation of the
japanese.
Our program emissions rapid
evacuation of the japanese, ano
VIC will facilitate +I;e rayoo +r;o +;o,,
he explained On the basis OF
evacuating 100000 japanese monthly
this task alone would keep his
theater active eight or ten months
longer, he estimated. 7.z..a..,.. .-...-
Ee already has informed. his
troops that in view of what he
termed the pro-Chiang policy of
the United States, they will not be
going home as soon as they had
expected He has Cancelled two
troopship sailings.
Need Cold Weather Equipment.
Chinese forces which would be
transported to Manchuria, he told
newsmen, would have to be provid-
ed with equipment against subzerc
weather-and some of it likely woulo
have to be provided by the United
States.
American ships and men already
have transported the Chinese 18th
and SD Armies to North China by
sea, landing them at ChinWangtac
whence they marched overland into
from Chinese Communists.
More recently. the headquarters
of Gen. Tu Li-mings army group
which embraces these two armies
moved aboard American ships from
the Haipong area of ndo-China to
Hulutao. Debarkation of this group
of approximately 4,800 men began
December %.
No date has been set for activa-
ton of the proposed military ad.
visory group, Gen. Wedemeyel
added. Its task, he said, would be
to aid China ''in the creation oi
modern, military air, ground ano
sea forces" Its headquarters woulo
be at the Chinese national capital.
Hopes Family Can Be Moved.
Gen. Wedemeyer expressed the
hope that wives and families of serv.
icemen can join them in China BY
next spring.
No decision has yet been reached
on this point, however, and he sale
he didn't think it advisable right
now anyhow because of the housing
shortage, inadequate heat, high
prices and lack of sufficient schools
When the go-ahead does come
from Washington, he concluded, per-
mits will be given wives of enlisted
men "in exact proportion" to those
given officers wives,