United States Army in World War II: China–Burma–India Theater
Time Runs Out in CBI
by Charles F. Romanus and Riley Sunderland
. . . to Those Who Served
Table of Contents
Part One: Opening the Road to China
Chapter 1: New Commanders in a Split Theater
The Political and Economic Scene in China – Wedemeyer’s Missions and Roles – The U.S. Command Structure in China Theater – The U.S. Projects in China – Sultan’s Task – The American Effort in India and Burma – The SOS in India, Fall 1944 – Supply Activities in India – Lend-Lease to China
Chapter 2: Wedemeyer Begins His Work in China
Japanese Plans in American Eyes – The Japanese Side of the Hill – Wedemeyer’s Reactions to the Chinese Scene – The Japanese Begin To Threaten – ALPHA: Beginning an Attempt To Save – Chinese Reactions to ALPHA – Strengthening the Chinese Forces – Filling the Gaps in the Chinese Divisions – Plans To Break the Transport Bottleneck – Attempts To Arm Hsueh Yueh – Plans To Use the Chinese Communists
Chapter 3: Beginning the Fall Campaign in North Burma
The Situation at the Front – Planning the First Directive – Events Cancel the Attack on Rangoon – Allied Land Forces, Southeast Asia – NCAC Prepares To Resume Operations – Logistical Support – Japanese Plans and Preparations – Reopening the Fight – The Attack in the Center – Fighting Around Tonkwa
Chapter 4: Breaking the Blockade of China
NCAC Drives Toward China – Attack on Bhamo – Last Days of the Burma Blockade – The End of the Salween Campaign – Opening the Ledo Road
Chapter 5: The Crest of the Flood in China
Wedemeyer Asks Help From SEAC – Reaching a Decision – Moving Reinforcements to China – Attempts To Reinforce the Kweiyang Area – Wedemeyer Reshapes His Organization – Moving Toward Better Coordination – The Japanese Menace at Its Height – Wedemeyer’s Views on China’s Problems – Cherry Blossom and Sea Wind – The Fourteenth Air Force Versus the Japanese – The Suichuan Operation
Part Two: Plans and Preparations for Opening a Port in China
Chapter 6: The MARS Force and the Burma Road
Marsmen Prepare for Battle – Over the Hills and Through the Woods – Harassing Japanese Traffic – The Block Disapproved
Chapter 7: Victory in Burma Frees Troops for China
MARS’s Last Fight – Clearing Loi-kang Ridge – From Combat to Administration – The British 36th Division Wins Its Hardest Fight – The Burma Campaign Moves Toward a Climax – Slim Wins the Decisive Battle – Reinforcements for China Theater – Lashio and the Reinforcement Problem
Chapter 8: Finding a Way to Advise and Assist
Making Liaison Effective – Working Out the Thirty-six-Division Plan – Food for the ALPHA Soldiers – Carrying Out the Food Program – Problems and Accomplishments of the Food Program – The Student Volunteers – No Arms for the Chinese Communists – Conducting a Straightforward Show – The Problem of French Indochina
Chapter 9: Meeting the First Test in China
The Thirty-six Divisions Take Form – Eastern Command’s Work Interrupted – The American Share in the Chihchiang Campaign – The Test Successfully Passed
Chapter 10: Role of the India–Burma Base
A Unified Command Structure – Personnel Management Problems – Social Problems – Preventive Medicine – Reciprocal Aid and Lend-Lease to India – Supply Policies for China Theater Projects – Ports, Pipelines, and Railroads – Operating the Line of Communications to China – The Line of Communications Reappraised – Transferring Support From SEAC to China – The Last Battles in Burma
Chapter 11: Preparing a Drive to the China Coast
Plan BETA – Wedemeyer’s Visit to Washington – Logistical Obstacles to BETA – SOS Problems and China Operations – The Japanese Save RASHNESS – The Drive to the Sea Moves Off Dead Center – New Commanders for CARBONADO – Preparations To Open a Seaport – Problems of the Ground Line of Communications – Logistical Problems of Fort Bayard
Chapter 12: The End of Wedemeyer’s Experiment
The Chinese Army, Summer 1945 – The School System of the Chinese Training Center – Helping the Chinese SOS – The Communist Problem Emerges Again – The Chinese Reoccupy Their Land – What Are the Problems of a Sudden Peace? – Events in the Pacific Overtake CARBONADO
Charts
1 Tonnage Supplied to China From India–Burma: October 1944-September 1945
2 Organization of U.S. Forces, China Theater: January 1945
3 Allied Chain of Command: November 1944
4 Chinese ALPHA Forces: 36-Division Force
5 Sino-American Liaison System (Schematic)
Tables
1 Tonnages Delivered by India-China Division, ATC
2 Comparison of Japanese and Chinese Division Firepower
3 U.S. Troop Strengths, China Theater: 1945
4 Vehicle and Cargo Deliveries to China and Burma by Months: 1945
5 Gasoline Deliveries by Pipeline to China
6 Division Training Status: 5 August 1945
7 Chinese Order of Battle: 31 August 1945
Maps
1 Omitted
2 China–Burma–India Line of Communications, July 1945
3 Situation in China, October 1944
4 The ALPHA Plan, November 1944
5 Disposition of Forces, 15 October 1944
6 North Burma Operations, 15 October-31 December 1944
7 Opening the Road to China
8 End of the Salween Campaign, 3 November 1944-27 January 1945
9 The Suichuan Operation, January 1945
10 Securing the Burma Road, January-March 1945
11 The MARS Force, 19 January 1945
12 Offensive of British Fourteenth Army, 12 December 1944-3 May 1945
13 The Chihchiang Campaign, 8 April-7 June 1945
Illustrations
Maj. Gen. Albert C. Wedemeyer Arriving at Chungking – Terrain in the Kunming Area – C-46 of the Air Transport Command – Ancient Chinese Villager – Maj. Gen. Claire L. Chennault – Kunming Airfield – India-Based B-29’s – Y-Force Officers – Lt. Gen. Daniel I. Sultan – Loading River Boats – Loading Boxcars – Bulldozer in Operation South of Myitkyina – Jorhat Airfield – Nationalist Chinese Soldiers – Chinese Refugees Evacuating Liuchow – General Dorn – Lux Convoy – Col. David D. Barrett – Tank Farm at Myitkyina – Second Quebec Conference – Bivouac Area of the 475th Infantry – Jeep Train on a Narrow-Gauge Line – Maj. Gen. Francis W. Festing and General Sultan – British Casualties – Pack Artillery Troops – Field Conference at Sikaw, Burma – Christmas Day at Tonkwa – General Sultan and General Sun Li-jen – Front-Line Position – Burmese Idol in Namhkam – Two Soldiers – Ponton Bridge Over the Irrawaddy River – Chinese Coolies Leveling a Roadbed – Chinese 22nd Division Troops – Chinese-American Staff Conference – B-29’s Head for Rangoon – General Wedemeyer Visits Western Command Headquarters – Fourteenth Air Force B-24 – Mule Skinners and Pack Animals – Bamboo Bridge Over the Shweli River – Marsmen Cut Cross-Country – Marsmen on Loi-Kang Ridge – Japanese Truck and Tankette – Mortar Squad, 124th Cavalry – An 81-mm. Mortar Crew – Silver Rupees for Battle Damage – Allied Leaders Plan Operations – Men of the 988th Signal Battalion – Chinese Senior Officers – Chinese Artillerymen – The Honorable Patrick J. Hurley – Chinese Mechanics Reassembling Lend-Lease Jeep – Chinese Hostel at an American Air Base – Col. Emerick Kutschko – Col. Woods King – Eastern Command Headquarters Conference – Chinese New Sixth Army Troops – Chinese Boatmen – Waiting at Chenyi Airfield – P-51’s Moving Through the Streets of Karachi – Army Air Force Fuel Dump at Assam – Brig. Gen. Haydon L. Boatner – American Officers, OSS Detachment 101 – Lt. Gen. Raymond A. Wheeler – Meeting at Yalta – Soldiers on a Troop Train – Maj. Gen. Howard C. Davidson – General Tang En-Po – The Generalissimo Honors General Chennault – Kwangsi Command Headquarters – Chinese Army Replacements – New Chinese Soldiers – Demolitions Class on a Bridge – Maj. Gen. Henry S. Aurand – Liuchow Airstrip – Returning to Liuchow
Illustrations are from Department of Defense files.