Evening star., 1945-07-09

Military observers Just returned from
Chungking have expressed high praise
of the unexpected resurgence of the
Chinese Army, which only last fall and
winter was de elected and capable Of
offering only a nominal resistance to
the Japanese.
These observers attribute the new
offensive spirit of Generalissimo Chang
Kai-sheks forces to two factors:
definitely increased flow of lease-lend
materials and the presence OF 1t. Gen.
Albert Wedemeyer as overall commander
OF the China theater.
When this Omaha boy" arrived in
Chungking last November the situation
looked hopeless The Chinese comman-
ders, including the generalissimo him.
self. were dispirited because of the little
material support China was receiving
and also because of the dificulties the
Chungking government was having with
Yenan. The relationship with the Com
munists was such that large part of
Chiang's best troops were busy watching
their Communist countrymen's forces
rather than fighting the Japs.
Gen. Wedemeyer was ordered to take
over in China after having spent ls
months as deputy chief of staff to
Admiral Lord Louis Mountbatten. The
tall slender Nebraskan, who smiles sell
dom and Is a poor back-slapper, was
received at the Running airdrome by
his worried subordinates who painted
a drab picture OF the situation for him.
The Japanese were preparing new
drive which was intended to chase
Chang into Tibet. Gen. Wedemeyer
was told little could be done to offset
the Jap offensive. The remainder Of
Free China was about ripe to fall.
The NebraSkan reported to Chang,
who instinctively saw In him a man in
whom he could have unlimited con-
fidence. Gen. Wedemeyer. who is no
diplomat, had long heart-to-heart
talk with the generalissimo and told
him bluntly that his position required
that he lay all his cards on the table
and that he expected the same thing
from Chang. Otherwise he said, their
relationship would be impossible and
he would be compelled to ask WASH
ington to relieve him. Chang agreed
heartily.
Gen. Wedemeyer set to work imne-
diately The japanese, commanded by
a nondrinking, hard-hitting general,
were about to start their final offensive.
So sure were they that it would be
successful that Tokyo Rose" broadcast
in English that Gen. Wedemeyer will
have his Christmas dinner, IL he has
one, in New Delhi and not in Chung
king"
Gen Wedemeyer used the available
air transport to move up American
and well-trained Chinese troops from
Burma. Their number was not suffi-
cient. He went to see the generalissimo
and told him he wanted to transfer
Immediately at least 10000 Chinese
troops who were guarding the Com
munist border to the more vital Japa-
nese battlefront. This meant that the
Yenan border would be left practically
without covering since Gen. Wede-
meyer has decided to bring to the front
only those men whom American Army
doctors found best fitted for service.
Chang did not hesitate to withdraw all
the men the new American commander
desired and assured him that If he
wanted the entire force transferred he
had no objections. The timely arrival
Of these reinforcements changed the
picture and the japanese offensive
failed.
The NebraSkan worked tirelessly from
that time to reorganize the Chinese
forces. fully aware that for some time
he could not count on important support