ALLIED PUSH SOON?

Gisborne Herald, Volume LXIX, Issue 20918, 19 October 1942, Page 5

ALLIED PUSH SOON?

OFFENSIVE SIGNS RETAKING OF BURMA GENERAL WAVELL’S TOUR (By Telegraph—Press Assn—Copyright.) (2 15 p.m.) LONDON, Oct. 16. The Allies clearly intend to open a second front against Japan from India soon, says Reuter’s correspondent at New DeihL A four-day tour of India’s northeast defences by General Sir Archibald Wavell, Commander-in-Chief, India, during which he crossed into Burma, indicates this, says the correspondent. The fact that there will be a drive to link up India with China is encouraging to both countries. While in Burma General Wavell closely questioned officers who, for many weeks, have been scouting in ones and twos far into Burma. He spent many hours with these officers, pouring over detailed maps and listening to the information they had collected by using new and little known routes across north-west- Burma. He ordered their reconnaissance to be extended. When General Wavell appeared in Burma, the news spread quickly and local Burmese chiefs appeared in full procession, complete with elephants, to oay then- respects. General Wavell assured them that everything is being done for them as soon as possible. The Associated Press correspondent at New Delhi says the circumstances of General Wavell’s tour are interpreted as heralding an offensive .to retake Burma. The Allied forces.,on the Burma frontier region for weeks have been restless from inaction, but the monsoon has now ended and flying weather has returned. Chinese Co-operation ,General Wavell’s ■ message to the troops, according to reliable informaticn„.was “We are going, forward.” The Berlin radio quoted a statement in the Tokio paper Hochi Shimbun that the Burmese : army is being increased tenfold. Recruits under the new scheme are being called up at the end ,of the year. General Waveil’s tour of the Indian - Burma frontier was followed by news about activity against the Japanese forces in Burma by Chinese mobile units in the region of the Burma Road, in south-western Yunnan Province. According to Chinese sources in London these units were regularly crossing the deep gorges through which tire river flows to harass advanced Japanese units which have pushed up the Burma Road, i These small-scale raids are a regular feature of the operations which may be presumed, to be leading up to the part the Chinese will eventually play in the, recapture Of Burma when the time comes.for.The, offensive foreshadowed by General Wavell. That the closest co-ordination is being maintained in. these preliminary activities between the British, American and Chinese Commands in India and China is shown by the combined bombing policy of the British - and American air, forces in India and the American Army Corps in China. The latest target of the latter force was again Lashio, the important Japanese supply base in Burma.