November 27, 1942
 
         SUMMARY OF REPORT ON SUPPLY ROUTES TO CHINA.
 
          1.        Lend-Lease records indicate that there are over 73,000 tons 
of supplies for China at Karachi and other points in India with thousands 
more to come as per list attached.
 
               2.        This means that it will be necessary to have a combination 
of ground and air transport to deliver these supplies using the railway 
across India to Sadiya.
 
               3.        Meager reports which we have from various sources indicate 
that there are several possible short, quickly constructed road routes 
between Sadiya and points on the Burma Road. These road routes should be 
investigated immediately by engineers.
 
               4.        It is absolutely necessary to have trucks--modern Armies can 
not operate without them. Mr. C. V. Bowman, Zone Manager, who was super-
intendent of maintenance on the Burma Road, reports that the tracks which 
were used on this highway are in very bad condition and that there are 
practically no facilities at all for maintaining these trucks. None of 
the equipment shipped from the United States and intended for maintenance 
for some 5,000 trucks on this highway ever reached China. Lend-Lease re-
ports that there are 1,800 tons of spare parts--a greater portion of which 
are for vehicles in China are still at Karachi. It should be easier to 
transport these parts by plane to points on the Burma Road and install a 
system of maintenance and repair than to ship new trucks from the United 
States.
 
          5.             Lend-Lease reports the following trucks at Karachi:
                        Number of trucks:
 
          1/4 ton (4X4)                 285 a
          1/2ton (4X2)                   31
          3/4 ton (4X2)                  50
          2-1/2 ton (6X4)                42
          2-1/2 ton (6X6)               449 b
                              -----------------------
                                   857
 
          Tank trucks                    48
          Wrecker trucks            79
          Floodlight trucks              40
 
all of which are supposed to be in good condition. These trucks can be 
shipped from Karachi to Sadiya by rail or go by highway and transport a 
load, if necessary. Colonel Dawson, Indian Supply Mission, says that the 
journey would require about three (3) weeks.
                                                                                                                                                             
a/   Fifteen diverted- Jeeps  
b/   Probably 20 diverted.