Evening star., 1945-10-23
China Plans 10 Occupy
Manchuria After Reds,
Wedemeyer Declares
BY NELSON M. SHEPARD.

China is preparing to occupy
Manchuria and firmly establish its
sovereignty in the three Eastern
Provinces, occupied by Japan since
1881, as soon as the Russians move
out in December, 1t. Gen. Albert C.
Wedemeyer SAID late yesterday at
War Department press conference.
The general, commander of Amer
ican troops in China, also revealed
that the japanese surrender came
just in time to cancel a planned
Chinese offensive to liberate Hong
Kong and Canton. The operation
was scheduled for August is.
Warmly praising Generalissimo
Chang Kai-shek. Gen Wedemeyer
said the Chinese leader and Nine
Chang plan a visit to the United
States. She was educated here.
Leaders Aware of Peril.
Gen. Wedemeyer expressed the
belief that both Communist and Ma
tionalist leaders in China recognize
the danger to peace" if chaotic
political conditions become wide
spread and said each is equally
sincere" in desiring to settle their
differences without resort to force
With Russian forces scheduled to
pull out of Manchuria in December.
he said Generalissimo Chang was
preparing to reclaim" the territory
for the Nationalist government by
an occupational force of 10000 Chi
nese troops consisting of two sepa-
rate armies. ..
The American occupation forces,
he said, will be reduced by January
l to 5000 Army troops and $4,000
Marines, including a Marine air
wing. He indicated that the Ma
rines will remain on the job until
spring. -..
Nationalist Chinas Manchurian
force will be made up of six of the
20 Chinese divisions trained and
equipped by the Americans. !
The toughest problem of moving
100000 Jap soldiers and 1000, ,00e
civilians back to Japan lies in the
scarcity OF shipping facilities, food
and clothing, he said. =.
Chennault May Aid Chinese. !,
Gen. Wedemeyer also reported
that Mai Gen. Claire L. Chennault.
former commander of the 14th Air
Force in China, who is retiring
from the Army, may possibly re-
turn to China soon to head its
new postwar air force.
Il know Gen. Chennault would
like very much to serve in China
again, and decision may be
reached making it possible for him
to do so," Gen. Wedemeyer said. He
would be a very good man to head
the Chinese air force, job he filled
for several years before our entry
into the war" t...
Gen. Wedemeyer said that when
he met the former Flying Tiger"
leader on his return to this country
recently Gen. Chennsult had told
him that he wanted to go back
to China with me-"
Conditions may make that pos
sible, he said, but "the decision
will depend on negotiations between
Chang and the United States Gov
crnment." .
Explains Chennault Retirement.
The China theater commander
said he would reveal the true
facts" why Gen. Chennault had
quit China after he had been dis
placed as commander of the 14th
Air Force by 1t. Gen. George C..
Stratemeyer. "He didn't resign; he
asked to be retired, and I reluctantly
approved the request" he said.
The Burma campaign had been
planned to help China, he con-
tinued. 1t was in accordance with
preconceived Allied plans, he said,
that when the Burma campaign
succeeded and supply lines were
opened the American forces would
move into China. That was done
last Spring. Maj. Gen. Stratemeyer,
the theater commander, was given
three stars" and sent to China TO
take over the main air job
Gen. Chennault didn't like the
idea of being superseded in COM
mand, especially after the eight
years he had fought in China" he
said. That's all there was to it.
To indicate that there is no
hard feeling between us" he paid
a warm personal tribute to Gen.
Chennault. He has my respect
and admiration and the respect
and admiration of the Chinese ronn.