U.S. MARINES

Wanganui Chronicle, Volume 89, Issue 265, 9 November 1945, Page 5

U.S. MARINES

TO BE WITHDRAWN FROM CHINA NO CHANGE IN POLICY Reed. 9 p.m. Washington, Nov. 7. Mr. Byrnes has announced that the United States is planning to withdraw Marines from China. He said he could not specify the date or whether the force wouid be withdrawn as a whole or piecemeal. Mr. Byrnes did not mention specifically why the Marines were being removed. He added that he had discussed the Chinese situation with the War Department, but was unable to verify a report of clashes between Marines and Communists. The original decision to send the Marines to China was purely military. A State Department spokesman said that the withdrawal of the Marines from China did not reflect any change in the American policy of supporting Chiang Kai-shek but meant that the northern cities would soon be turned over to Chiang’s forces. The spokesman pointed out that by VJ-Day the United States had completed the equipping and training of only 20 of 39 scheduled Chinese divisions. Apparently the 19 remaining are still being trained and equipped. Furthermore, General Wedemeyer can still transfer equipment to the Chinese on a Lend-Lease basis since President Truman’s order ending LendLease provided far exceptions in cmergency situations.