22. GREAT BRITAIN. a. Manpower. Mobilized to capacity; the bulk of the forces in the UNITED KINGDOM should soon be fully trained and equipped for offensive action. b. Military. It is estimated that by the end of 1943, the Royal Air Fo'rce will have 225 bomber squadrons (3825 airplanes) and 342 fighter squadrons (4100 airplanes). The British Imperial Army will consist of 84 combat divisions, including 65 divisions of British and Dominion troops, 15 divisions of African and Indian troops, and 4 divisions made up of Allied personnel. British naval strength at the end of 1943 will be ade- quate for neutralizing enemy surface naval forces in the ATLANTIC and M[EDITERRANEAN. British naval forces in the INDIAN OCEAN are adequate only if major Japanese naval forces are contained in the PACIFIC. e. Economic. The productive capacity of GREAT BRITAIN may be expected to increase only slightly. 23, CHINA. a. As long as Chiang Kai Shek remains in power, Chinese collapse is unlikely. A change in the political regime would reduce the effectiveness of and might eliminate CHINA as an ally. Enemy operations resulting in the isolation of CHINA would curtail and eventually prevent the Military cooperation of CHINA regardless of her political leadership. b. Manpower. Manpower is not a limitation upon the size of the Chinese Army. The Chinese forces are best adapted to holding operations end guerilla activities. c. Military. The army now contains fewer Japanese forces than it did in December 1941. Important battles with Japa- nese ground forces may be fought on Chinese soil and will require the participation of large Chinese forces. - 14 - |