GRAVE THREAT

Wairarapa Times-Age, 6 February 1942, Page 3

GRAVE THREAT

SEVERANCE OF SUPPLY LINES U.S.A. & AUSTRALIA. JAPANESE ATTACK ON INDIA NOT UNLIKELY. (By Telegraph—Press Association—Copyright) WASHINGTON, February 4 Not only investment of the Netherlands East Indies but also severance of supply lines between the United States and Australia and an attack on India are seen in Washington as the aim of the latest developments in the Japanese’ strategy. Military and naval authorities already consider the position of the United States-Australian communications to be extremely serious. Japan is stated to have landed about 10,000 troops at Rabaul and an appreciable number elsewhere in the New Guinea area. It is felt that the increasingly severe Japanese attacks on Burma are aimed at both cutting the Burma Road and launching an attack on India. The Indian problem is seriously pre-occupying the Allied command.

JAPANESE CLAIM CAPTURE OF PAAN, ON EAST BANK OF SALWEEN. NO CONFIRMATION IN LONDON. (British Official Wireless.) (Received This Day, 9.45 a.m.) RUGBY, February 5. In Burma the Japanese claim to have captured Paan, which is 25 miles north of Martaban, on the east bank of the Salween River. This claim is not confirmed in London. A message from Rangoon states that there is no change on the Salween front. The R.A.F. bombed enemy forces trying to dig themselves in at the mouth of the Salween River. ANOTHER RAID PORT MORESBY BOMBED. LONDON, February 5. Japanese four-engined flying-boats dropped 30 bombs over Port Moresby, New Guinea, early today.