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China Asks Two Shiploads of Arms a Month

Called Minimum For Immediate and Reserve War Needs

Chungking, April 15. --(UP)-- Two Liberty-type freighters could carry the 20,000 tons of war materials that China needs each month for armies in the field and to build a reserve for future offensives, Gen. Ho Ying-chin, minister of war, said today.

He emphasized that the figure was the bare minimum on which China could operate. Principal needs are plans, heavy guns, gasoline and oils, machine tools, medical supplies, chemicals, guns and ammunition.

Produce Shells, Light Arms.

The Chinese are producing large quantities of ammunition and light firearms in more than 300 factories, but they lack heavy guns and munitions need for large scale offensives, Gen. Ho said.

After delivery of the supplies in India, about one third of the total anticipated tonnage can be moved to Chinese armies by using a fleet of transport planes, already in operation, the war minister said. 

Remaining tonnage would  brought overland by truck, mule cart, and human labor.

Thousands of tons of lend-lease materials removed from Rangoon before the Japanese invasion of Burma were cached on the upper Burma Road instead of being hauled all the way to Kunming.

Stresses Need for Planes.

Gen. Ho emphasized strongly the Chinese need for war planes before a large-scale offensive can be launched. He said the Japanese "fear we will get these planes."

The Japanese apparently are bombing airdromes and runways in an effort to destroy facilities for heavy bombers the Chinese might use to strike at Nipponese supply lines, the general said. He referred to bombings of two airdromes in Chekiang Province.