For the Future

Major General Albert C. Wedemeyer, one of General Marshall's "bright young men," worked hard at his job. As new U.S. military chief in China, 48-year-old General Wedemeyer had promptly presented his defense plan ("simple and I hope sound") to Chiang Kaishek. Five days later, without revealing its details, he was able to announce that it had been accepted by the harried Generalissimo. Chinese forces were now moving into place to meet the Japanese westward drive, would soon prove whether "Al" Wedemeyer's plan was sound as well as simple.

Wedemeyer, who is Chiang's chief of staff, had other plans. To newsmen last week he laid out his basic doctrine: Japan would have to be defeated on the continent of Asia. Therefore American troops must be brought to China, and sea communications must be opened to bring them in. Said General Wedemeyer: "When the war in Europe ends I want to be ready to tell General Marshall, 'We can use certain forces and supplies for a definite purpose.' . . . We'll need a continental force to close with the Japanese and for employment of our air forces."

Apparently Americans would also continue to train Chinese troops for the coming battles. In Yunnan province thousands of Chinese have already passed through bases like "Little Fort Benning," grown husky and active on good food, learned modern communications and tactics from U.S. instructors.

But while the training went on, China was still in evil days; the Japanese pressed closer to China's inner fortress. The enemy had moved to within 120 miles of Kweiyang, an air base city near the eastern end of the Burma Road. Nanning, last forward American air base in China, was captured. Heading the advance was wily, bespectacled General Yasuji Okamura (whom Wedemeyer called a "wise and adept mountain fighter").

For some reason Tokyo had summoned Okamura from north China, after an upstairs kick for his predecessor, Field Marshal Shunroku Hata. Best guesses why: 1) the advance was now approaching the Kuang-si mountain ranges, where Okamura would feel at home; 2) Hata's campaign, despite its success, was behind schedule.

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