The Story Behind Chiang
Kai-Shek's \isit Io India
-
Washington — The visit of Beneralissimo Chiang.
Kai-Shek to the capital of India is one of the most sig
nificant in the history of ancient Asia. Perhaps not
since the days of Kubla Khan has the leader of one
great Asiatic race totalling 400 million people visited
the capital of another great Asiatic race, numbei ing
300 million people.
A few years ago, the British would have viewed such
a visit with misgiving, even horror. For in the past they
have desired no unity between the brown and yellow
races of Asia. However, there is extremely significant
diplomacy behind the trip of the Chinese generalissimo
to India. First, it foreshadows a new route for Chinese
supplies through India; for if the Burma Road should
be closed, China must have a new supply route or quit
fighting. Second, it means that China is going to play
a greater part in the Far Eastern war.
It hasn’t leaked out yet, but Chang Kai-Shek had to
use hard-boiled diplomacy to win all this. In fact he
admost threatened to pall and Aguinaldo and join the
Japanese.
China Is Rebuffed
Here is the inside story of what happened. Shortly
after General Wavell was appointed commander-in
chief of the Far Eastern forces, Chiang Kai-Shek coo -
ed him three Chinese army corps to fight in either
Burma or Singapore or both. However, Wavell turned
a cold shoulder. No explanation was given, but the
Chinese got the impression that the British Indian Gov
eminent had political reasons for not wanting Chinese
troops involved.
After this rebuff, Foreign Minister T. V. Soong, sta
tioned in Washington, slyly suggested that it might be
good strategy for the United States to employ the same
strategy as the British—namely, let other people do
the fighting for them in the East. Just as he English
were using Indian, Malay and Anzac roops, Dr. Soong
suggested, the United States might use Chinese troops.
And he guaranteed that his countrymen were itching
to fight. All they needed was a little help in getting
artillery, machine guns, airpanes and tanks.
Soong pointed out that China had an army of vet
erans seasoned by five years of fighting. By arming
them, he said, the United States could get started in
the Far East without waiting to train its own men. Also
the United States could save the long haul of troops
half way around the world, to the East Indies. How
ever, when U. S. military men sat down and began to
figure that-a soldier in the field (at least an American
soldier) needs 100 pounds of supplies and ammunition
daily, they didn’t see how they could supply a very
big Chinese army. So they gave the Chinese a discou
raging answer.
Chiang Threatens Peace
It was about this time that diplomatic dynamite ex
ploded in the Far East. In the first place. Secretary of
the Navy Knox popped off with his statement about
Hitler being our chief enemy—which made the Chin
ese think we were willing to appease Japan. Second.
Captain Fritz Wiedemann, ex-Nazi Consul in San Fran
cisco and World War aide to Hitler, was in China try
ing to do some appeasing himself. According to diplo
matic dispatches, what Wiedemann told the Chinese
was something like this: “You have been fighting for
years, and where are you? Furthermore, what are your
great friends the British and Americans sending you?
Nothing. And if they win, they will be back demand
ing extra-territorial rights. On the other hand, if we
win, you can count on Germany to help you make a
fair peace with Japan.”
Wiedemann’s diplomacy had a definite effect upon
RED ( ROSS
WAR RELIEF DRIVE
Nome Goal Donated
$1,500
$722.65
War Relief Garments
To Be Held In Alaska
The following wire was receiv
ed by the Chairman of the Nome
Chapter of the American Red
Cross, from Schaffer, District
Manager at San Francisco:
“Hold all war relief garments
emergency relief Alaska Letter
fol ows."
DP AM A CLUB
PLAY A SUCCESS
Frc in all rep irts i! is indicat
ed that the three act comedy
given last Saturday night at the
hieh school auditorium by the
Federated Drama Club was a
corr piete success. There were
over 300 people in attendance
and n mv laughs were recorded
a-, the play got under way. Miss
Marie Kiordan deserves much
credit tor giving the finishing
touches to the play. and the
Drama Club wishes to take this
opportunity of thanking all
others who assisted in any way
in making the evening an enjoy
able one for all.
WITH THE PEOPLE
P»Y THE PEOPLE
I
I OK THE PEOPLE
--
I ~ '
some Chinese. They were
anxious for peace with Jap
an. Also it gave Chiang Kai
Shek a definite weapon to
hold over British and Am
erican heads.
That was the inside rea
son behind the half billion
dollar loan suddenly rush
ed through Congress; also
the reason for Britain’s sud
den loan. That also is be
hind the Generalissimo’s
present trip to India. Fin
ally, and even more import
ant, he aso demanded 100
U. S. commercial planes to
fly war goods across India
' to China.
And he is going to get
them. U. S. airlines are al
ready preparing the planes.
The new Burma Road will
be through the air.
PACIFIC COAST A A GUNS THUNDER
The roar of anti-aircraft guns was heard on the Pacific coast recently when this
battery of three inch guns engaged in target practice. Nearby residents were warn
ed in advance that the firing was to be at practice targets—not enemy planes.
Oil, DERRICK HIT BY SUBMARINE SHELL
‘•_apt a in Barney Hagen, U. S. A., inspects damage done to an oil well derrick at
■G.. let a, Calif., near Santa Barbara, by a shell from an enemy submarine believed
i be Japanese. A catwalk was splintered and parts of the iron sides of the wel
mm ping plant were perforated.
SHELL PIERCES OIL COMPANY PIER .
r^, h, - x jmmur SMHRHwa
Soldiers examine a splintered hole made 'n i pier by .1 shut frt m tbe qun of an
enemy submarine which poured 25 shot into an oil refinery at Oolet 1. near
Santa Barbara, Calif.
WHERE SUB ATTAU H> UAL. REFINERY
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This map locates Goleta, Calif., where an enemy submarine, believed to be Japan
ese, appeared and fired 25 live-inch shells at an oil refinery near the shore. The
damage was slight and there were no c tsualties.