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From: United China Relief
1790 Broadway, N.Y.C. 
New York City Committee
Ci. 5-4100, Ext.56

FOR RELEASE UPON RECEIPT

New York, March 25--China's major needs to carry on the fight against Japan are artillery and anesthetics, Dr. John Earl Baker, former Director General of the Burma Road Transportation Bureau, said today in an interview at United China Relief headquarters, 1790 Broadway.

Dr. Baker, who has just returned from Chungking where, prior to his Burma Road post, he served as Director of China Relief for the Red Cross, said that "the shortage of anesthetics in Free china is so drastic that major operations would become impossible within a year's time if the supply should be cut off."

The Chinese army's present military equipment is practically confined to small arms, he said.

"The lack of artillery accounts for the fact that Japanese military positions are maintained in China's interior with small, but superior armed, forces. Whenever they have fought on equal terms, such as in the mountainous terrain where mechanized equipment is useless, the Chinese soldier has proved himself superior."

Dr. Baker praised the morale of the Chinese people and their realistic attitude toward the war.

"They are resigned to another four or five years of fighting", he said, "but have no doubt as to ultimate victory. Entry into the war of America, whose prestige among the Chinese is very high, has fired them with new confidence and convinced them that victory is inevitable."

Dr. Baker left today for Chicago, en route to his home in Eagle, Wisc.

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