embarrassing and distracted attention just when the Allied commanders were preoccupied with their top priority: the secret preparations for D-Day just four months away. Stilwell was able to launch his campaign because nobody had the incentive to stop him. Chiang Kai-shek was still concerned that a major Japanese assault was imminent. But his words did little to convince his Western Allies. On March 27 Chiang suggested that transferring Y Force (some 90,000 men in total) and the American fighter planes to India for the Burma campaign would leave central China vulnerable. Roosevelt replied on
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