Detroit evening times., 1946-01-11

THICAGO-The Chinese must be. by ma
Y turo. the worlds most optimistic people.
Since 1881 they have been undergoing IN
vasions privations and sufferings great
enough 10 make another nation long since
give up the ghost. Their economy has been
wrecked. their cities bombed, ransacked and
ravaged
Generalssimo Chang Kai-shek is gener-
ally well regarded among our military men
The consensus Is that Gen. Pat Hurley was
right and that we should continue 10 support
Chang, But the opinion is also general that
Chang is surrounded by A host OF sef-seek-
ing mllitarists and politicians. The top busi-
nessmen Of China apparently are both honest
and patriotic, but they have little influence in
the conduct Of the national government.
Yet the Chinese people seemingly on the
brink of civil war that could be more savage
than Chinas war against the Japs, still can
smile still can view the future WIN optimism
AS said in concluding my previous article It
was welcome relief to see their smiling
faces after gloomy India a relief to see men
and women in whom there remain sparks of
liberty and independence and assurance.
OUR boys still die in China. While I was
" there, - lads took off in Mustang fight
ers we were moving from Running 10 Shang-
-Aai-te give -tu-tre- Chinese On.y II planes
got through because Of ice and storms Eight
pilots parachuted to safety One Of the three
pilots lost had had combat over Germany and
China had been shot down by the Japs and
escaped imprisonment.
1t Gen. George +. Stratemeyer, com
mander of the u. S. Army Air Forces in
China immediately stopped All sueh flights
He explained that the loss of high point
weather fOrecasters and radio operators made
flying, except in perfectly clear weather too
hazardous 10 continue. Stratemeyer is a very
able officer He enjoys the confidence of his
staff and pilots.
Together with-Gcn. Powers, the head of
our mission, and his staff, we ATTENDED
meeting with Gen. Evans, in charge of surplus
for the army and Gen. Johnson local repre-
sentative OF the liquidation commission They
reported that 1t was difficult to declare sur
pluscs until the size Of the Chinese army and
our own occupational forces is definitely de-
termIned. Since The only buyer of surpluses
here is the Chinese government, the delay
is not serious.
I VISITED 1t. Cen Albert c. Wedemeyer,
Il commander of the u. S. Army forces in
grasp of his responsibilities He was pleased
with the appointment of Gen. Marshall just
announced. He spoke highly of Secretary of
War Patterson. said Pattersons recent radio
speech on the Chinese situation was most
helpful. He commented on the fine support
given him by Gen. Macarthur. was tre-
mendously impressed with Gen. Wedemeyer
Shanghai was cold and prices sky high;
in fact SO high that Wedemeyer had declared
many restaurants and shops "out of bounds
until they cut their prices 80 per cent
Back In the States the Army football team
was about to wallop Navy but in Shanghai
saw navy team beat an army team 12-0 in
good game enthusiastically enjoyed by
1900 servicemen. II made me homesick for
the old-time games at Stagg Field and |
counted with bit of shock the many years
which have passed since | played my las
game for the University of Chicago
DAN into Rep. Maury Maverick after the
III game, who was on a special mission in