Marshall Mission Files, Lot 54–D270
Memorandum by the Chinese Minister of War (Chen Cheng) to General Marshall
According to article 3, section I of the basic plan of military reorganization and the integration of the Communist forces into the national army the entire army will consist of armies each with three divisions and with supporting troops not to exceed 15 per cent of its total strength. On the basis of organizing altogether 108 divisions the entire army strength should be about over 1,400,000, and the strength of supporting troops accordingly, should be over 220,000.
According to the explanation of U. S. military representatives, the supporting troops of each army includes units directly under that army, units directly under the army headquarters and also SOS units. To avoid difficulties in the actual execution of the plan, it seems that it might be better not to include SOS units in the explanation. In other words, the unarmed SOS units are not to be counted as part of the supporting troops which are not to exceed 15 per cent of the total strength of the army.
The above is brought to your attention with the hope that the matter may be given reconsideration.