CABLEGRAM FROM MADAME CHIANG KAI-SHEK TO
LAUCHLIN CURRIE 
 
APRIL 12, 1942
 
THE GENERALISSIMO AND I RETURNED YESTERDAY FROM THE BURMA FROST. 
THE SITUATION THERE IS UNSPEAKABLY DANGEROUS WITH COMPLETE
DISORGANIZATION OF BOTH FRONT AND REAR, COLLAPSE OF CIVIL
ADMINISTRATION, BREAKDOWN OF COMMUNICATIONS, AND POPULATION
PANICKY RESULTING IN UTMOST CONFUSION AND INEFFICIENCY EVERYWHERE. 
NO FIGHTING MORALE IS APPARENT ON THE PART OF GOVERNMENT OR PEOPLE. 
BRITISH SEEM HOPELESS AND HELPLESS, WHILE BURMESE PEOPLE ARE
ANTAGONISTIC AND THE COUNTRYSIDE IS HONEYCOMBED WITH FIFTH
COLUMNISTS.  WHEREEVER BOMBING OCCURRED, CORPSES OF MEN AND
ANIMALS ARE UNREMOVED AND EXPOSED TO HORDES OF FILES.  WITH
EXTREME HEAT PREVAILING, I GREATLY FEAR CHOLERA OR OTHER EPIDEMICS
FOR OUR TROOPS NOW ENTERING DISTRICTS.  RAILWAYS CONGESTED BY
BOMBED CARS, DEBRIS, ETC., CAUSED DELAY IN OUR REINFORCEMENTS
REACHING TOUNGOO, NECESSITATING OUR WITHDRAWAL THERE. CUT WIRES
REMAIN UNREPAIRED FOR DAYS.  GENERALISSIMO TOLD ALXANDER IF SUCH
CONDITIONS OBTAINED IN CHINA HEADS WOULD HAVE BEEN CHOPPED OFF. 
CHINESE ARMY FIGHTING GALLANTLY AGAINST OVERWHELMING OBSTACLES
BUT MUST HAVE IMMEDIATE LARGE SCALE AIR SUPPORT OF HUNDREDS OF
PLANES OTHERWISE OUR SACRIFICES ARE USELESS AND IT WILL BE IMPOSSIBLE
TO HOLD ON.  ON RETURN TRIP FROM LASHIO WE RECIEVED RADIO MESSAGES
THAT ENEMY SENT EIGHTEEN PLANES SCOUTING IN ALL DIRECTIONS TO
ATTACK US IN AIR.