PLANS OF CHIANG

Gisborne Herald, Volume LXVIII, Issue 20526, 9 April 1941, Page 4

PLANS OF CHIANG

U.S. PLANES NEEDED READY TO STRIKE NEW YORK, March 24. "China is waiting for American planes before launching a major counter-offensive against the Japanese.’’ declared the Chinese Generalissimo, .General Chiang Kai-shek, in an interview with the Chungking correspondent of the New York Times.

"I am satisfied with our military position," he continued. "We have scored a series of successes in recent months, and our forces are now organised and ready for a major drive. If we can get American war planes, we will be able to strike.”

Commenting on the dispute between the Central Government and the Chinese Communists. General Chiang said: “This is a question of discipline . The Government wishes to consider the Communist armies as part of the national forces, but tiiev are demanding a special, independent position, and have not listened to orders.

“Many people think that we will not be able to continue our resistance to Japan because of the Communist trouble, but the Communists will not be able to retard our resistance to aggression. “In numbers and equipment the Communists are weak. The Red armies comprise only two per cent of the Chinese forces. There is nothing to worry about in this situation.”

General Chiang admitted that economic conditions in China were difficult, but expressed his confidence in China’s ability to handle the situation.