BURMA PICTURE

Dominion, Volume 37, Issue 202, 24 May 1944, Page 7

BURMA PICTURE

Series Of Defeats Of Japanese (British Official Wireless.) (By Telegraph.—Press Afesn. —Copyright.) ” (Received May 23, 7.5 p.m ) RUGBY, May 22. A strategic picture is beginning to emerge from the confused fighting in Burma. The campaigns conducted ui widely-separated areas can now be fitted together to form a single picture. Hie key is Myitkyina, the largest; town ot northern Burma, terminus of the railway and focal point of road and track communications. . The main attack on Myitkyina was launched from the north by General Stilwell’s mixed American and Chinese force. This operation has been greatly assisted by the long-range penetration of the British and Indian special force which succeeded in effectively cutting the Japanese communications between northern aua central Burma. The Chinese, advance from the Salweeja River, by tying down tlie Japanese troops on that front, completes the pattern of this campaign. The Japanese had three divisions along the Chindwin which they could have sent north to attack General Stilwell s men. or cast to engage the special force. Ine Japanese command preferred instead to attack thi'ough Manipur against the Allied lines of communication in Assam. This operation, had it succeeded, would have given the Japanese bases for a further offensive against India, and also would have had the effect of strangling the Allied offensive against northern Burma* The Japanese plan failed. They must now pay the price, not only in very heavy casualties suffered in the Imphnl and Kohima areas, but also in a severe aeteat jn the battle for northern Burma. As the Delhi corerspoudent of Die Times” says, “tlie battle - for northern Burma, if it can be said to have been won, was won in large part by the British Fourteenth Army on the Manipur road.”