Stilwell and the American Experience in China

by Barbara W. Tuchman

  Hornbeck on sympathizers: mem to SecNav, 16 Apr 42, HP, File “McHugh.”

  Stimson, “I wanted so much”: Stimson Diary, 6 Nov 41.

  Roosevelt, “Is he still willing”: Blum, II, 367.

  “To demand an end to aggression”: ibid., 365.

  Hull, Morgenthau, Soong, Lothian on B-17 proposal: ibid., 366–67.

  Stimson and Marshall on B-17s: ibid., Langer and Gleason**, 304.

  China Defense Supplies: Wertenbaker.

  “Chinese military self-sufficiency”: Magruder to Marshall, 11 Aug 41, R&S*, 29.

  Thirty Division program: CBI History, Master Narrative; also R&S*, 25–42.

  General Sliney’s report: 10 Dec 41, R&S*, 36–44 (together with other AMMISCA reports to the same effect).

  “Fatally defective”: Schuirmann to State, 4 Apr, USFRC 42, 31.

  Free-lance correspondent on Burma Road: Vanya Oakes, in “The Wrong News about Asia,” Asia, April 1944, 151.

  Arnstein’s report: in Life, 6 Oct 41; others on Burma Road: Sherwood, 289, 405; R&S*, 47; Eldridge, 25–30.

  Marshall and Stimson predict Russian defeat: Stimson to FDR, 23 Jun 41, in Stimson Diary 34. Stimson wrote that he had spent the day in conference with the War Plans Division and the Chief of Staff. “Here is their estimate of controlling facts: 1) Germany will be thoroughly occupied in beating Russia for a minimum of one month and a maximum of three months.”

  California maneuvers: NYT, 1 and 26 Jun 41; Eldridge, biographical essay on Stilwell in Time files.

  Stilwell rated No. 1: Gen. Wilson’s Efficiency Report, December 40–June 41, 201 File.

  Joint Board’s opinion: Sherwood, 412.

  Yarnell on Lattimore: letter of 29 Apr 41, HP, File “Yarnell”; other letters on this appointment in FDRL, PSF “China 41–42.”

  Lattimore’s report: ibid., PSF “Currie.”

  Chiang appeals for help: 2 Nov 41, ibid., PSF “China 41–42”; Langer and Gleason**, 840; Chiang to Soong for conveying to Knox and Stimson, 25 Nov 41, M-Diary, I, 530.

  Gauss on China’s resistance: Gauss to State, 11 Sep 41, HP, File “China: Relations with U.S.”

  10. “I’LL GO WHERE I’M SENT,” DECEMBER 1941–FEBRUARY 1942

  It may be assumed that all official communications for which references are not specifically cited in this and the following sections are to be found in R&S.

  “Fight ’em off with oranges?”: Dorn, “Walkout.”

  Marshall’s judgment of Stilwell: interview with R&S, 6 Jul 49.

  First of nine corps commanders: Stilwell, B&W I, 27. The list was shown him by Mark Clark, who had been designated by Marshall to rate commanding officers.

  In the Kremlin “no one knew what to do”: Svetlana Alliluyeva, Twenty Letters to a Friend (New York, Harper, 1967).

  News of Pearl Harbor in China: Han Suyin, 235; Peck, 353; “Armistice Day,” White, Thunder, 152; Gen. McNally, then language officer in Kweiyang, to author.

  Chiang’s proposal for Allied strategy: R&S*, 56–57.

  Roosevelt’s list of United Nations: Sherwood, 452.

  Niemeyer Mission: Woodward, 419; text in M-Diary, I, 619–22.

  British suspect a trick: Sherwood, 457.

  “Be fatal to have”: Bryant*, 235.

  Wavell in Chungking: Magruder to President, SecWar and C/S, 25 Dec 41; Lattimore to Currie, 11 Dec 41, FDRL, “ ‘Safe’ China.” On this meeting see also Feis, 25; R&S*, 55; Stimson Diary, 29 Dec 41; Wavell to Churchill, 25 Jan 42, in Churchill, IV, 134.

  Anglo-Chinese dispute over Lend-Lease: R&S*, 57–60; Feis, 11.

  Marshall to Wavell: FDRL, “ ‘Safe’ China.”

  Gauss on “severe shock” and “indignation”: to State, 17 Jan 42; also Vincent to Gauss, 24 Jan, USFRC 42, 4, 10.

  Roosevelt feared Asia gravitating to Japan: Sherwood, 455.

  “If China goes under”: Elliott Roosevelt, 53.

  FDR and Churchill “differed strongly”: Churchill, IV, 153; Sherwood, 716.

  FDR conversation with Snow: Snow, Journey, 253–57.

  “Compel the Chinese people”: to Morgenthau, 6 Dec 34, Nixon, II, 306.

  FDR’s China policy: Judge Rosenman, interview with author; also Marshall on same, R&S*, 62, n. 40.

  Colonial empires past: Sherwood, 573.

  China as an equal: Welles, 155.

  British Empire was finished: Burns, 208.

  “I reacted so strongly”: Churchill, IV, 209.

  Primary responsibility for China: Hopkins Papers, qtd. R&S*, 86, n. 13.

  “Wild and half-baked”: Bryan*, 236.

  One-word lesson, “China”: Churchill, IV, 134.

  Drum episode: Drum Papers, qtd. R&S*, 63–68; Stimson Diary, 6 Jan 42; Pogue and Dorn to author.

  Marshall’s view of China’s potential: interview with R&S, 13 Jul 49.

  “Joe, you have 24 hours”: Dorn, “Walkout.”

  Meeting of Stimson and Stilwell: Stimson Diary, 14 Jan 42; also Stimson-Bundy, 530.

  More important than Singapore: Churchill, IV, 53, 56.

  Chiang and Soong on Stilwell’s appointment: Stimson Diary, 19, 22, 24 Jan 42; R&S*, 66, 72–73 (nn. 74, 75, 77, 78); White Paper, 469.

  Admiral Miles’ instructions: Miles, 18.

  A British historian: Collis, Burma, 76.

  Stilwell’s strategy for Far East: mem for C/S, 6 Jan 42, CBI History, Sec. 3, App. III; mem for C/S, 31 Jan 42, R&S*, 75.

  Stilwell’s instructions: CBI History, Master Narrative; Marshall to Stilwell, 9 Feb 42, R&S*, 74; designation as CG USAF-CBI dated 1 and 4 Feb 42, 201 File.

  Origins of Hump air route: Stimson Diary, 30 Jan 42; Soong to FDR, 31 Jan 42, R&S*, 77; Sherwood, 513; USFRC 42, 13; Harriman to President, 31 Jan 42, in Mr. Harriman’s papers.

  Chinese initiate the “back-country road”: R&S*, 76–78.

  Dispute over Chennault’s command: B&W II, 9 Feb 42 (SP, 37); also R&S*, 73, n. 79.

  Meeting with President: SP, 36; also Stimson to FDR, 2 Feb 42, FDRL, OF “150 China 42.”

  Roosevelt characteristics: Gunther, 26; Sherwood, 249; Mrs. Halsted, interview with author.

  FDR letter to a friend: to Fred I. Kent, Governor of Federal Reserve Bank of New York, Nixon, II, 585.

  FDR in 1944, “I do not want the United States”: qtd. Matloff**, 491.

  China drew loudest applause: Sherwood, 458.

  Chinese communiqués on Hong Kong: NYT, 16 Dec 41: “A savage Chinese attack is in full swing in the Tamshui area 25 miles north of Hong Kong” and has forced the Japanese “to retire from some of their positions outside Canton.” AP from Chungking, quoting official Chinese Central News agency.

  Chiang on Indochina: “Proposed Campaign in Indo-China,” documents, 8 Jan–6 Feb, USFRC 42, 749–60.

  Magruder on “make-believe”: to WD, 10 Feb, USFRC 42, 13–16.

  “Fascist dictatorship”: Griswold, 382.

  No journalist “wishing well to China”: Sheean, Thunder, 345.

  $500-million loan: Feis, 22–23; Blum, III, 87–100; Stimson-Bundy, 531; Stimson Diary, 3 and 5 Feb 42; State Dept. comment, 28 Feb, USFRC 42, 474.

  Magruder, China no military asset: to AGWar, 3 Feb 42, CBI History, Sec. 3.

  Wavell reported “inferiority complex”: Churchill, IV, 101.

  Air raid from Outer Mongolia: Arnold to President, 28 Jan 42, FDRL, PSF “ ‘Safe’ China.”

  Singapore “worst disaster”: Churchill, IV, 92.

  11. “A HELL OF A BEATING,” MARCH–MAY 1942

  Indian units trained for desert war: Slim, 8.

  Burma as “impenetrable barrier”: Mountbatten, 12.

  Burning of Lend-Lease stores: R&S*, 84.

  Dorman-Smith’s last dinner: Collis, Burma, 105.

  “We Asiatics”: ibid., 26.

  Gandhi to Chiang Kai-shek: USFRC 42, 33–34; Chiang to Ambassador in London (Wellington Koo), 24 Feb 42, FDRL, Tully file “Chiang Kai-shek.”

  “No one ever saw a fat Chinese”: Steele, 25.


  China’s deterioration: Tsou, 49–53.

  “Intense distaste”: Steele, 27

  Gauss “hard to fool” and “because he is cold”: mem by Hornbeck, 8 May 42, HP, File “Gauss.”

  “Only a minor asset”: to State, 14 Jul 42, ibid., File “Leahy.”

  Ho Ying-chin nicknamed Grandma: Li Tsung-jen, #24, 10.

  Condition of the Chinese armies: report by Mme. Sun Yat-sen, HP, File “Armed Forces China”; Gauss to State, 14 Jan, USFRC 44, 5; Miles, 153; Stilwell, passim.

  “Extreme delicacy”: USFRC 42, 29.

  Sliney, “one of the best”: Slim, 118.

  Number of generals at British Headquarters: Stilwell, Burma Campaign.

  Tu Li-ming to Dorman-Smith: Collis, Burma, 122.

  Alexander at Dunkirk: Current History, October 1942; Churchill, IV, 166–67, 169.

  Press conference in Chungking: Harrison Forman in NYT, 21 Mar 42.

  RAF withdrew to India: Stilwell, Burma Campaign.

  Chiang’s favorite advice: letter of Mme. Chiang, 16 Mar 42, Hoover, File 13.

  “The bastards have caught me”: Eldridge, 55.

  Slim’s talk with Merrill: Belden, 33.

  “Obstinate as a whole team of mules”: Slim, 36.

  Aide to Wavell sees sinister atmosphere: Collis, Burma, 142.

  The Chinese “parasites”: Alexander, “Report,” 94.

  Nien tso fa: Liu, 13.

  Hsueh Yueh and G–mo’s interference: Li Tsung-jen, #41, 30.

  Newspaper headlines: Carmel Scrapbook, AP from Delhi, 20 Mar 42 (unidentified newspapers).

  Stilwell’s seal: B&W II, 49, undated; see SP, 117, n. 6 by White.

  Officers of the 38th: Col. —— and colleagues in interview with author.

  Madame’s letter: 8 Apr 42, Carmel A-21.

  Mrs. Luce’s article: Life, 6 and 15 Jun 42.

  Mandalay after the bombing: Dorn, “Walkout.”

  Chiang to Churchill: to Wellington Koo for transmission to PM, 17 Apr 42, FDRL, PSF “China 41–42.”

  Watermelons: S-Diary; Dorn, “Walkout”; see also Mme. Chiang’s comment, p. 423 of this book.

  Japanese treatment of prisoners: Davies mem, “Burma Campaign,” August 1942, HP, File “Davies.”

  “Sir Childe Harold Alexander”: 10 Apr 42, Carmel A-21.

  Louis Johnson’s report: 26 May, USFRC 42, 57.

  “Completely antiforeign overnight”: HP, File “McHugh.”

  Marshall et al. on Tenth Air Force: Matloff*, 202.

  Plan for training Chinese troops in India: Marshall to FDR, 29 Apr 42, forwarding radio from Stilwell, FDRL, PSF “ ‘Safe’ China.”

  Doolittle raid, Chiang’s objection: reports by Bissell, 11 and 16 Apr 42 and other correspondence, ibid.; Marshall to CKS, 17 Apr, USFRC 42, 32.

  Alexander to General Tu: Alexander, “Report,” 94.

  “Unhappy” and “sulky”: Dorn, “Walkout.”

  Ava bridge prepared for demolition since February: Kirby, II, 179, n. 1.

  Alexander and Stilwell during air raid: Dorn, “Walkout.”

  “State of funk”: Eldridge, 81.

  “The Boss should tell the Chinese”: ibid., 90.

  Telling Darrell Berrigan: Sat. Eve. Post, 17 Jun 44.

  “If I run out now”: Jones to author.

  Alexander’s farewell statement: Current History, October 1944.

  “Resignedly playing solitaire”: Eldridge, 88.

  Scott and Haynes: Scott, 208.

  C-47s (DC-3s): The Douglas C-47 was one of the many military conversions of the commercial DC-3. Designed to carry heavy cargo, its top speed was about 220 m.p.h. When fitted with folding benches, it could carry 28 fully equipped troops.

  The walkout: S-Diary throughout; for other primary accounts, Dorn, Belden, Eldridge, Seagrave, information from Jones to author; letter of General Williams to Mrs. Williams, 30 May 42, lent to author. Originals of Stilwell’s last radio messages in Hoover, File 123.

  “Looking like the wrath of God”: Providence Journal, editorial 20 May 42.

  Marshall’s message: 13 May 42, Carmel A-21.

  Instructions to AMMISCA of May 9: AC/S, OPD, mem to WD Message Center, HP, File “Marshall.”

  Newspaper headlines: based on UP from Chungking, Carmel Scrapbook, unidentified newspapers.

  San Francisco Chronicle and NYT editorials: 15 Oct 46 and 26 May 42, respectively.

  12. THE CLIENT, JUNE–OCTOBER 1942

  “Keeping China in the War”: R&S*, 152.

  Stilwell’s plan for reconquest: to Stimson, 25 May 42, Stimson Papers; CBI History, Master Narrative.

  “Exalted concept of true soldiering”: Sevareid, 322.

  “Ill-fated strategy of attack”: Liu, 179.

  China justified in remaining passive: Peck, 381, 386.

  Chiang’s message of May 25: Matloff*, 227.

  Madame to Currie: USFRC 42, 55.

  Chiang asks for Hopkins: ibid., 57.

  Roosevelt to Arnold: 5 May 42, FDRL, “ ‘Safe’ China.”

  Gauss, “undeclared peace”: to SecState, 7 Mar, USFRC 42, 27; mem by Hornbeck, 7 May 42, ibid., 41.

  Statement of military failings: text in R&S*, 153.

  “Quite a few of the Chinese high command should be shot”: to Stimson, 25 May 42, Stimson Papers.

  Stilwell’s plan of reform: text in R&S*, 154.

  Von Seeckt’s recommendations: Liu, 93, 99.

  “Some regenerative idea”: SP, 19 Jun 42, 116.

  Soong to Stilwell: R&S*, 168.

  “I need everything!”: Arnold, 329.

  Pilots caught in tree tops: Peers, 123.

  “Scuttling pompously”: Chennault, 153.

  Feud with Bissell: Gauss to State, 29 Aug, USFRC 42, 146.

  “Kick in the teeth”: McHugh to ONI, 11 Oct 42, McHugh Papers.

  Chennault to Madame: 27 Nov 41, Chennault Papers.

  Report on Chinese air cadets: 5 May 42, ibid.

  “Examine the optimums”: qtd. in a souvenir history of AVG published in 1967 by the Flying Tigers Organization, Chennault Papers, AVG, Misc.

  Letter to Stilwell: Chennault, 211.

  “Full authority”: ibid.

  “15 Nippon planes every day”: 13 May 42, Chennault Papers, AVG.

  Three Demands crisis: CBI History, Master Narrative; SP, 119–22; R&S*, 168–72; Vincent (28 Jun), Hull (1 Jul), Gauss (2 Jul), FDR (4 Jul), USFRC 42, 91–92, 95–96, 109.

  Rumors set afloat: Gauss, 11 Jul, ibid., 110.

  Gauss, “bluff”: ibid.; SP, 126.

  Chou En-lai quoted: M-Diary, 22 Apr 42, II, 872–73.

  Attempt to divest Stilwell of Lend-Lease: SP, 126–27, 130; R&S*, 175–79.

  Lung Yun and Madame as hostage: Col. Thomas Arms, Jr. (instructor with Y-force) to author.

  Chiang did not want a well-trained army: Stilwell to Marshall, 23 Jul 43, qtd. R&S*, 353; Davies, “Conversation with Chinese Attaché,” USFRC 43, 62.

  Letter to Stimson, “unvarnished truth”: 27 Jun 42.

  Four-point military plan: 30 Jul 42, Hoover, File 15; text in R&S*, 182.

  “It is not anticipated”: 6 Aug 41, R&S*, 41.

  British “have no intention”: 31 Jul, “CBI: A Reappraisal,” USFRC 42, 129–31; see also Gauss to State, 3 Aug, ibid., 121.

  Dorn to War Department, August 4: R&S*, 182–83.

  Chou En-lai to Davies: USFRC 42, 102.

  Cyril Rogers: Snow, Journey, 216.

  “90 percent is untrue”: White, Thunder, 112.

  Maxwell Hamilton: 16 Feb, USFRC 42, 19.

  Gauss, “dismiss this as rot”: 11 Jul, ibid., 112.

  Dr. Van Slyke: 9 Jun 42, FDRL, PSF “Currie.”

  “If anything happens”: 3 Aug, USFRC 42, 119–23.

  Currie’s recommendations: R&S*, 186.

  FDR, “the problem of personalities”: FDR to Currie, 12 Sep 42, FDRL, OF “150 China 42.”

  British “reappraisal”: Gauss, conversation with British Ambassador, 4 Sep, US
FRC 42, 148.

  Marshall on Currie’s visit: interview with R&S, 6 Jul 49.

  FDR to Marshall on Stilwell: Roosevelt, Letters, II, 1350.

  “Harmony in Chungking”: to FDR, 6 Oct, USFRC 42, 154.

  13. “PEANUT AND I ON A RAFT,” AUGUST 1942–JANUARY 1943

  22nd Division physical condition: Eldridge, 143; SP, note by White, 137.

  “Put 50 in a plane naked”: S-Diary, 14 Sep 42.

  Conditions of flight: CBI History, “Fillers”; Gen. Wheeler, interview with author.

  “Thank God we don’t speak Chinese”: Eldridge, 142.

  Resentments at Ramgarh: Seagrave674, 50; Ho Yungchi, 40; Liu, 185.

  Americans shocked at punishments: Gen. Boatner to author.

  Stilwell addresses troops: Col. —— and Lt. Col. —— of 38th Division, interview with author.

  Willkie considered “highest rank”: Hornbeck mem, 31 Oct 42, on speech by Gardner Cowles (who accompanied Willkie), HP, File “China, Relations with U.S.”

  General Hsiung quoted: Han Suyin, 287.

  Incidents of Willke’s visit (unless otherwise noted): Willkie, 117–49; see also Peck, 433.

  One World sales: Burns, 328. I am indebted to Professor Burns for two other sources on the phenomenal sales of Willkie’s book, viz.: Donald Bruce Johnson, The Republican Party and Wendell Willkie (1960), 236, and Ellsworth Barnard, Wendell Willkie (1966), 412.

  Military review for Willkie: NA, film, 208 UN 21.

  War Ministry cocktail party: the late Joseph Barnes (who accompanied Willkie) to author.

  “Cold battlefields”: Thoburn Wiant, AP, NYT, 1 Nov 44.

  Willkie urges Madame to accompany him: J. C. Vincent, interview with author.

  Stilwell to Byroade: Byroade, interview with author.

  “Sian is to the north of Kunming”: Scott, 260.

  Chennault’s letter of October 8: Chennault, 212–15.

  Marshall, “just nonsense”: interview with R&S, 6 Jul 49.

  McHugh’s intervention: report to ONI, 11 Oct 42, McHugh Papers. In a letter to Knox of 1 Aug 42 McHugh had written that he felt “pushed out” by Stilwell, which may have partly accounted for this action.

  Marshall infuriated: R&S*, 148.

  President read the document: McHugh to Chennault, 11 Mar 43, McHugh Papers. As a result of Marshall’s angry protest, Admiral King issued an order prohibiting McHugh from serving again in CBI (mem for Mr. Chester, 26 Jan 45, ibid.). This was later rescinded after Stilwell’s return, when McHugh secured his consent.