Chinese Pattern
TIME, Monday, Sep. 18, 1944

Which is nearer the end of its military rope: Japan's ally, Germany, or the U.S.'s ally, China? Few Americans asked the question, but some Chinese wondered.

Since capturing Hengyang (TIME, Aug. 28), the Japanese drive, spearheaded by five divisions with as many more in support, has advanced southwest at the rate of ten miles a day. It cut right through the Chinese army that opposed them—the Chinese, with no ammunition left, had to get away as best they could. The Japs overran Lingling, a Fourteenth Air Force field. At that rate of advance, ten days more would put them in Kweilin, site of a major U.S. air base and capital of Kwangsi Province.

There were ominous reports that further Jap divisions were moving down from the Honan front to Hunan, reports that flotillas of Jap reinforcements were steadily moving up the Yangtze River, reports from Hunan that a brigade of 200 light tanks was ready to go into action soon. The Chinese might be able to muster a slightly larger number of men—but incomparably less equipment. And the nearest Chinese reinforcements were in Yunnan, about 30 days' march distant.

Bottleneck.

One natural defense remained. A scant 15 miles south of the Kwangsi border, before which the Japs were poised, is the Hwangshaho defile, where river, railroad and highway all pass through a gap five miles wide and eight miles long. Here, if anywhere, a stand must be made. But it must be made with lesh against machines. Cabled TIME'S Correspondent Teddy White: "Kwangsi's one resource, its one hope of resistance, now lies in marshaling a people's army such as helped to stop the Japanese in their first penetration of this province four years ago."

Cost of the Loss.

If the Japanese take Kweilin, they will: 1) deprive free China of the rice, manufactures and other resources which come from the southern coast provinces; 2) win the chance to open an overland route to Indo China; 3) cut off the U.S. air force in China from the bases whence it has raided Japanese shipping and supported the now almost exhausted Chinese armies behind the coast.

What that U.S. air force has meant to China was indicated in a ballad reprinted last week by the New York Times from Chungking's Central Weekly—titled Ballad of the Eagles, written by Tien Chin, translated by Frank Tao:

. . . Blue is the vast sky,

The eagles sound like thunder in the spring night,

Under the moon their eerie shadows chase them. . . .

During the enemy's attack on Hunan . . . Their bullets rained in the sun, Drawing geysers of enemy blood.

They smashed the horsemen of the oppressor

Like a man trampling ants with his feet.

While returning after a victory,

To the airport by the river,

One of the eagles was forced to alight

on the grass plain

The villagers, seeing the warrior, Were so happy tears came to their eyes.

They took him to town in a bamboo sedan chair.

The magistrate came to meet him And to offer toasts of yellow wine.

The flying warrior smiled

A pleasant smile.

He was clad in khaki

And his beard and hair were yellow.

His eyes were as blue

As the sharp dagger blade he carried.

Firecrackers were lighted in front of all

the houses And fresh and fragrant flowers were presented to him.

Alone through the lane, He walked in the morning.

The curtains and screens were lifted So that all the townpeople could see him.

Sources: http://www.time.com/time/magazine/article/0,9171,796690-2,00.html