FAR EAST COMMAND

Greymouth Evening Star, 30 October 1944, Page 6

FAR EAST COMMAND

GEN. STILWELL RECALLED

KAI-SHEK’S REQUEST ?

WASHINGTON, October 28. The White House announced, that the commander of the United States Armies in China, Burma, and India (General J. W. Stilwell) has been recalled to Washington. The former China, Burma, and India theatre commanded by General Stilwell will be divided into two theatres under separate commanders. The American forces in the China theatre will be commanded by Major-General A. C. Wedemeyer, who has also been appointed Chief of Staff to Marshal Chiang Kai-shek. Major-General Wedemeyer at present is Admiral Mountbatten’s deputy Chief of Staff. The United States forces in Burma and India will be commanded by. Lieutenant-General Daniel Sultan, at present deputy commander in the China, Burma, and India theatre. Shortly after the White House announcement the War Department in a statement said that in view of the decision to divide the China, Burma, and India theatre into two smaller theatres, General Stilwell had been recalled to Washington and would be given a new, important, but at present undisclosed assignment. The United Press reports that other sources say that Marshal Chiang Kaishek requested General Stilwell’s withdrawal as the result of longstanding differences of opinion on basic concepts and command matters, and also how the Far East war should be conducted. SERIOUS DISSENSIONS The Washington correspondent of the “New York Times” says it is reported in Chungking that BrigadierGeneral Benjamin Ferris, oeputyChief of Staff in China, is also returning to the United States. He was formerly liaison officer for General Stilwell with the British authorities in New Delhi. His impending return is regarded as confirmation of reports that General Stilwell disagreed with' Ihe British as well as the Chinese over strategy and other military matters. General Stilwell’s recall is generally regarded as a reflection of the unhappy state of the war in China. ' The New York correspondent of the Associated Press says a high Chinese Government official revealed that General Stilwell was removed at Marshal Chiang Kai-shek’s request after Madame Chiang Kai-shek’s departure from China two months ago. Madame Chiang Kai-shek prevented General Stilwell and Marshal Chiang-Kai-shek from actually fighting each other, and provided the only link between men who refused to write or speak to each other. Marshal Chiang-Kai-shek and General Stilwell have been at daggers drawn since the battle for the Burma Road. Marshal Chiang Kai-shek, whose forces were at the northern end of the road, wanted to defend only that sector rather than the entire road because of his limited resources. He therefore requested General Stilwell to remain with him. However, General Stilwell disagreed and advanced towards Burma to attempt to protect the southern approach to the Burma Road. The action resulted in failure and General Stilwell was forced to retreat and the Burma Road was lost. Thereafter the two generals were unable to agree and attempted to fight the war by themselves. JAP OFFENSIVE CHUNGKING, October 28. The Japanese opened an all-out offensive against Kweilin on Thursday. They now are attacking Chinese positions in the outskirts of the city. The Japanese also have advanced six miles in a renewed thrust westward from Pingnam v and have also Struck westward from'Foochow. The new Japanese offensive began after a long lull, in which the enemy regrouped his forces and, built roads to bring up supplies. The drive began with twin thrusts down both sides of the Hunan-Kwangsi railway. Another column swung south-westward from Kwangyang, fifty miles east-north-east of Kweilin, with the ultimate aim of joning in a general attack and of bringing Kweilin under twosided pressure. Japanese drove down the railway, supporting a column that moved to outflank Kweilin from the west. Other Japanese troops, to protect the left flank of the offensive, jabbed southward from Yungming, 75 miles eastward of Kweilin, against Fuywan, which is 35 miles distant. The Japanese drive from Pingnam is aimed at the Liuchow air base. The Chinese High Command announced the successful occupation of a major part of an enemy position eight miles southward of Kewiping. General Stilwell, in his communique, says: Fourteenth Air Force bombers on Thursday night probably sank a Japanese destroyer, and damaged a destroyer, tanker and cargo vessel, 75 miles westward of Liuchow. LULL IN BURMA RUGBY, October 29. The three hundredth South-east Asia communique has little to report. No major change is reported from the Fifth Indian Division front on the Tiddim-Fort White road. Patrol activity was maintained against the enemy. One Allied aircraft is missing.