CHINESE - AMERICAN
TRAINING PLAN
PROGRESSES
RAGGED HUNGRY, but with their tails up and those characteristic smiles on their faces the Chinese enetered
India from Burma, having fought their way out through the wilderness and terrific terrain which is Northern Burma
and Assam.
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FROM ASSAM they were transported by train to an East Indian training area, which was once a British camp for
prisoners of war. Here the Chinese were quartered in comfortable brick barracks, hospitalized when necessary,
well fed and re-equipped.
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THEY MOVED INTO their barracks and settled down for what the future might hold in store with that
talkative, personable cheerfulness so characteristic of the Chinese.
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THERE WAS little time devoted to resting, however, as Col. Frederick McCabe had the responsibility of running a
training school with new American weapons and the Chinese were in remarkably good physical condition.
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THE CHINESE are a frugal people not used to the Western ways of eating or over-eating. Their main diet is rice and
they can march and fight day after day on diets on which an American soldier would find it difficult to subsist.
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THE FIRST TRAINING and administration conference was held between Col. McCabe, General Sun, commanding the Chinese
troops in their heroic march to Burma, and Col. John A. MacLaughlin.
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THE SUPPLY question was a tough one in that weapons, ammunition, food, clothing, had to be furnished a substantial
number of Chinese. Col. Henry Holcomb runs the S.O.S. and that detail at Ramgarh.
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POSSIBLY THE GREATEST AUTHORITY on tropical medicine in the world today, Maj. Gordon S. Seagrave, was in command of
the station hospital ready to care for the newcomers. A former baptist Missionary, he is shown with one of his
Burmese nurses, Than Shwe.
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MAJOR GENERAL FRANKLIN C. SIBERT was the first high-ranking American Army officer to inspect the camp. He is
shown in the hospital with Ruth (most Burmese nurses with Christian names have only one), Capt. John H. Grindlay
and a Chinese patient.
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SIXTY PER CENT of the Chinese, all infantrymen when they arrived, are being trained as field artillerymen. Col.
George W. Sliney, who was awarded the Silver Star for heroism during the Burma campaign, runs the artillery school.
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BEFORE THE CHINESE arrived the doughboys had moved in and got ready to receive their allies. Hanging up the sign
of the United States forces are Pvt. Abraham Lipschutz and Pvt. Dean Tanner.
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AMERICAN INSTRUCTORS are present at the camp to teach the Chinese how to handle American types of weapons with
which they were unfamiliar. They had their own rifles, brought out of Burma without a spot of rust, so they didn't
need any coaching there. Instructors are to remain with the Chinese in combat.
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THE MOTOR SCHOOL at the camp is extremely popular with the Chinese soldiers. They all seem to enjoy learning how to
drive trucks. During the rains they had plenty of instructions about the hard way in the mud. Has the "Maintenance
Manual" got pictures or Chinese characters?
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WITH THE 60 MM mortar, the Chinese were so remarkable that the class teacher stated after one day, "I'm going
home. They know more than I do." Their own Chinese mortar is larger, but they handle the American weapon like veterans.
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A CHINESE officer looks through a "BC" scope on an artillery observation point. He is watching shells bursting
on a target only a few hundred yards ahead. The accuracy of the boys from China on their first day of firing made
all the Yanks whistle with amazement.
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THE FIRST FIRING done with the 75 mm pack howitzer was done for edification of General Stilwell on an inspection
trip. He was impressed with the Chinese ability and with the smoothness with which the Americans and Chinese were
working together.
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A LOT OF SUPERLATIVES have been used regarding the Chinese and their abilities, but the greatest surprise to all
came when the troops started firing 75 mm pack howitzers. Being all infantrymen, they probably had seldom seen an
artillery piece of this nature yet they bracketed their targets that first day like old campaigners.
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AMERICAN SERGEANTS who had been previously taught by the British, Instruct the Chinese in the use of the Brenn Gun.
Chinese ability with the mortar, automatic arms and artillery was considered astounding by hard bitten instructors.
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