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ADVANCE RELEASE    - 8 -     NB-2954

The provinces of Free China, which now include only about one-third of China's total population of 450,000,000 since the western migration, comprise: Kweichow, Yunnan, Szechuan (where Chungking and Chengtu are situated), Shensi, Kansu and Ninghsia (these three partly under control of the Communist Chinese) Sinkiang, Sikang and Tsinghai. Free China also controls parts of Fukien, Hupeh, and Hunan provinces.

The Japanese have occupied Hopei, Shantung, Shansi, Honan, Kiangsu, Aniwei, Jehol, the three Manchurian provinces of Heilungkiang, Kirin and Liaoning, plus parts of the provinces of Kwangsi, Chekiang, Kwangtung, Kiangsi, Suiyuan and Chahar, the unoccupied parts of which are contiguous to Free China and form part of it. Large areas of so-called occupied China are not actually held by Japanese troops, but they are isolated from Free China. 

AMERICAN COOPERATION WITH CHINA

The United States' greatest contribution to China, in their mutual warfare against Japan, is the operation of our naval and military forces in the Pacific. It is this activity that ultimately will open the front door to China, through her coastal ports, and permit her rehabilitation. In addition, the United States has supplied China with the fullest military aid possible within the limitations of transport and over-all global strategy.

Another major contribution has been the training and equipment of three divisions of Chinese soldiers, including their food and arms and a corps of light tanks These men were trained in India and have been carrying the brunt of the Burma battles. Two of the division had retreated previously from Burma when the Japanese firt occupied the country. They were built up by replacements, flown "over the hump" from China. Men for a third division to be trained in India also were transported in this way. In addition, the famous "Y" Army of the Chinese was trained and partially supplied at what is called "New Fort Benning" in Yunnan province. This is the force that is fighting the Japanese along the Salween river front. 

The training program for Chinese aviators at "Thunderbird Field" in the United States is widely known. The P-40 and the B-25 planes this men fly when they return to China also have been supplied by the United States. 

Other American contributions include:

1. Rapid expansion of air transport service into China. In addition to stepping up U.S. air transport, it is planned to supply the China National Aviation Corporation with modern four-motor planes to replaces its present two-motor Douglas transport planes.

2. Material progress in opening and constructing a new land route into China from India. It has been estimated that the Ledo-Burma road, [[strikethrough]] when completed, [[/strikethrough]] may funnel as much as 10,000 to 15,000 tons additional each month into China. [[strikethrough]] More than 150 miles of the road remain to be built, and other sections need improvement, [[/strikethrough]] since many portions of it will not permit trucks to carry more than a half-ton load. Completion of a four-inch pipeline to carry gasoline into China by this route would make it possible to deliver 12,000 tons of gasoline a month, or as much of this total as is not needed for Burma military operations. 

3. Establishment and operation of American air forces in China. General Chennault's forces are estimated at a total of 500 planes, the larger percentage of them bombers. 

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