Despite the loss of important bases in China, the tonnage delivered by air transport has enabled General Chennault’s Fourteenth Air Force, which includes many Chinese flyers, to wage an effective and aggressive campaign against the Japanese.  In 1944 aircraft of the Fourteenth Air Force flew more than 35,000 sorties against the Japanese and sank enormous tonnage of enemy shipping, greatly diminishing the usefulness of the China Sea lanes.

British, Dominion, and Chinese forces together with our own have not only held the line in Burma against determined Japanese attacks but have gained bases of considerable importance to the supply line into China.

The Burma campaigns have involved incredible hardship, and have demanded exceptional fortitude and determination.  The officers and men who have served with so much devotion in these far distant jungles and mountains deserve high honor from their countrymen.

In all of the far-flung operations of our own armed forces—­on land, and sea and in the air—­the final job, the toughest job, has been performed by the average, easy-going, hard-fighting young American, who carries the weight of battle on his own shoulders.

It is to him that we and all future generations of Americans must pay grateful tribute.

But—­it is of small satisfaction to him to know that monuments will be raised to him in the future.  He wants, he needs, and he is entitled to insist upon, our full and active support—­now.

Although unprecedented production figures have made possible our victories, we shall have to increase our goals even more in certain items.

Peak deliveries of supplies were made to the War Department in December, 1943.  Due in part to cutbacks, we have not produced as much since then.  Deliveries of Army supplies were down by 15 percent by July, 1944, before the upward trend was once more resumed.

Because of increased demands from overseas, the Army Service Forces in the month of October, 1944, had to increase its estimate of required production by 10 percent.  But in November, one month later, the requirements for 1945 had to be increased another 10 percent, sending the production goal well above anything we have yet attained.  Our armed forces in combat have steadily increased their expenditure of medium and heavy artillery ammunition.  As we continue the decisive phases of this war, the munitions that we expend will mount day by day.

In October, 1944, while some were saying the war in Europe was over, the Army was shipping more men to Europe than in any previous month of the war.

One of the most urgent immediate requirements of the armed forces is more nurses.  Last April the Army requirement for nurses was set at 50,000.  Actual strength in nurses was then 40,000.  Since that time the Army has tried to raise the additional 10,000.  Active recruiting has been carried on, but the net gain in eight months has been only 2,000.  There are now 42,000 nurses in the Army.