Susan in NC’s Reviews > Stilwell and the American Experience in China: 1911-1945 > Status Update

“ The rise of international Fascism shaped America’s view of China and the fervent syllogism at its core: democracy was threatened by the aggressor nations; China was under attack by an aggressor nation; therefore China was a democracy and her battle was the battle of world democracy.”

“China’s battle was making an impression on America. Out of sympathy with her resistance or investment in her affairs, correspondents, missionaries…concentrated on the admirable aspects and left unmentioned the flaws and failures….Generalissimo and Mme. Chiang Kai-shek as “Man and Wife of the Year” for 1937 gazed at Americans in sad nobility from the cover of Time, sober and steady, brave and true.”

“ In January 1938 his pressure finally broke through obstructions and he was able to go on the first of many journeys which over the next year and a half were to take him to embattled areas in many parts of China.”

“Stilwell’s vinegar was at a high level during the winter in Hankow, “the bunghole of creation.” He was depressed by the climate, “raw, grey, drizzly, chill,” by China’s situation, by the endless frustrations in the way of carrying out his professional task and by the blank incomprehension at the Washington end.The Chinese War Ministry had refused permission to visit the front and Stilwell could get no… information…”

“Determined to make an example of the capital that would bring the war to an end, the Japanese achieved a climax to the carnage already wrought…Fifty thousand soldiers hacked, burned, bayoneted, raped and murdered until they had killed, by hand, according to the evidence witnessed and collected by missionaries and other foreigners of the International Relief Committee, a total of 42,000 civilians in Nanking.”

“ A week after Stilwell reached Hankow, on December 13, 1937, Nanking fell in circumstances dreadful even for China. During the time bought in the trenches in Shanghai no preparations for the defense or evacuation of Nanking had been made with the result that losses in men and matériel when the capital fell were enormous.”

“Yet he had confidence in Chinese soldiers as fighting material and believed that if properly led they could become the equal of any army in the world. Hardy and uncomplaining, accustomed to long hours, scanty food, hard work, sickness and wounds and no pleasures, yet able to “make a joke of the merest trifle and remain cheerful under the most discouraging circumstances,” …”

“ The State Department, nervous lest some accident to its nationals involve America in the conflict, was encouraging departures. So many left, including Ambassador Johnson’s wife and children, that Win found herself the ranking American lady in Peiping. On September 7 a Presidential order required all American civilians to leave and at the same time State and Navy ordered out their families…”

“The defense of Shanghai made the world China-conscious.China was seen as fighting democracy’s battle and personified by the steadfast Generalissimo and his marvelously attractive, American-educated, unafraid wife. In their image Americans saw China strong in will and united in purpose. Once firmly fixed, this impression was unaffected by the military blunder of the withdrawal from Shanghai…”

“…all Chinese troops were withdrawn from the Peiping-Tientsin area leaving the Japanese in control. The lack of a concerted policy or plan of defense and the vain sacrifice of the men at Lukouchiao and Tungchow enraged Stilwell. The Chinese had missed so many good opportunities that “you can’t help getting thoroughly disgusted with them.”…”