“NO RETREAT”

Wairarapa Times-Age, 9 February 1942, Page 3

“NO RETREAT”

STAND IN DEFENCE OF BURMA PRINCIPAL ALLIED FORCES NOT YET ENGAGED. INDICATED JAPANESE AIMS. LONDON, February 7. The Rangoon correspondent of the “Daily Express” states that the British forces at Martaban, in the Salween River estuary, have taken up what seems to be a “no retreat” stand. It is obvious that the Japanese High Command aims, firstly, at the isolation if not the occupation of Rangoon, and, secondly, at cutting the Burma Road. The most important Allied forces have not yet been engaged, and the first big-scale battle for Burma has yet to come. The Chungking newspaper “Hu Pao” reported that the Chinese authorities are rushing the transport of goods stored in Burma. Trucks are moving day and night northward all along the Burma Road. The Burma authorities have approved the use of Burma rice for Chinese soldiers, thus solving a troublesome problem. Hitherto the authorities feared the Burmese would resent the diversion of foodstuffs tb the Chinese soldiers. As the result of the agreement Chinese forces are now entering Burma in ever-increasing numbers and at great speed. SOUND POSITION ON SALWEEN RIVER FRONT. STATEMENT BY GENERAL HUTTON. (Received This Day, 9.35 a.m.) RANGOON, February 8. Lieutenant-General Hutton, who has returned from an inspection of the Salween River front with General Wavell, declared today: “We are in a far sounder position to call a halt to the Japan- 1 ese than before.”