TO AMERICAN FRIENDS OF THE CHINESE PEOPLE
[Text] American Friends of the Chinese People
168 West 23rd Street
New York City, N.Y., U.S.A.
Dear Friends,
We are enclosing a circular announcement of the 8th Route Army Trustee
Committee and wish to appeal for your special support for a very urgent cause.
Of course we know that you have carried on numerous activities in supporting
the cause of world peace and obtaining aid for China. This time in addition
we appeal to you to divert part of your support for a region where untold
suffering and need exist. This region--North and Northwest China--is becoming
more and more the base for large scale partisan and guerilla warfare against
Japan, especially in the rear of the enemy. The 8th Route Army and the partisan-peasant detachments here have been fighting hand in hand in this region for
more than a year and are in urgent need of help.
All sorts of help is needed. Medical and surgical supplies, warm winter
clothing, blankets, and funds are required. The wounded must be taken care
of in the rear of the enemy. Supplies must be sent to them constantly and
this takes funds and supplies in large quantities. Just to transport one
wounded soldier from the Shansi front to a base hospital it takes $800.00.
Many operations have to be done without anesthesia. No pain-killing drugs
are to be had. Bandages, gauze and antiseptics are not to be had in sufficient
quantities. The refugees are constantly coming in and are mostly women
and children. Their menfolk have joined the partisans and their families
must be taken care of. Funds for their relief are urgently needed. A million
and one needs can be listed so that any help will go a very long way.
We appeal to your organization to help in collecting medical and surgical
supplies to care for the wounded and the refugees. Any contributions and
supplies can reach us thru the China Defense League, Hong Kong, China, or
thru your national organization if especially marked for the 8th Route Army
Trustee Committee.
With greeting, MAO TSE-TUNG, Hon. Chairman
LI FU-CHUN, Chairman 216