Only in Burma is Campaign Going Slow

Manawatu Times, Volume 69, Issue 53, 6 March 1944, Page 5

Only in Burma is Campaign Going Slow

Received Sunday, 7.25 p.m. WASHINGTON, March. 5. A series of High Command conferences on the Pacific war have convinced military quarters in Washington that Nimitz’s and MacArthur’s twin drives can be kept rolling at a fast rate well ahead of schedule with the Allies taking advantage of breaks resulting from Japan’s defensive weakness and not permitting the enemy a breathing spell in which to recover his balance and prepare for the next Allied blows. This is stated by the Associated Press’s correspondent, John Hightower, who adds: “The only theatre in which the war against Japan is falling short of expectations is Burma where the campaign is progressing more slowly than the American leaders like. However, competent authorities attribute Lord Mountbatten’s predicament to the fact that Burma has the world’s worst invasion terrain, favouring the defenders and posing enormous supply problems. “Moreover, Mountbatten is hampered by the lack of aggressiveness of Indian officialdom and the unfortunate division of authorities in that area where Wavell may check the activity to the extent that he controls the Empire forces in India and Chiang Kai-shek, who must exercise independent authority, while Stilwell is in a tight-rope position serving two commanders; first, as Chiang’s Chief of Staff and as a member of Mountbatten’s staff.”