Wairarapa Times-Age THURSDAY. FEBRUARY 19, 1942. THE BATTLE FOR BURMA.

Wairarapa Times-Age, 19 February 1942, Page 2

Wairarapa Times-Age THURSDAY. FEBRUARY 19, 1942. THE BATTLE FOR BURMA.

QTTLL making' some headway in her invasion, of the Netherlands East In lies and in her attacks on the island outposts of Australia, Japan apparently is intent also on a rapid extension of her offensive against Burma. There is perhaps no territory in which it is more necessary that Japanese aggression should be halted and rolled back if it is within the power of the Allies to muster the forces that will achieve that result. It is obvious that no light military effort is entailed. In their advance from Thailand, the Japanese have so far progressed round the northern shores of the Gull' of Martaban that they are within 55 miles of Pegu, on the railway which runs north from Rangoon to the starting point of the Burma Road, China’s life-line. It is indicated, too, that the enemy is about to broaden his front by an advance into Burma from Indo-China. A Chinese spokesman has mentioned the arrival in Indo-China of an additional 30,000 Japanese troops destined for Burma. Much more than even the fate of Rangoon and the continued use of the Burma, Road as a supply route for China is involved in these operations. Losing a large part of Bin ma, the Allies would not only be thrown back on India, leaving the enemy strongly established in sea and air bases from which to attack shipping in the Bay of Bengal, but would be handicapped tremendously in taking the offensive when they have assembled forces for that purpose. It may be unduly pessimistic, to regard Burma, as a gateway for attack on India itself, but even If any possibility of that kind be left out of account, the loss of Burma as a link with China and a base for ultimate offensive operations would be very serious indeed from the Allied standpoint. Even with Singapore lost for the time being and much Netherlands Indies territory also in enemy hands, Burma is of great value as a base from which to attack in flank and real, when adequate strength is available for the purpose, the Japanese forces extended to the south through Malaya, and the islands. It must lie hoped that there are good grounds for the belief expressed in recent news messages that Burma will be defended by the Allies resolutely and in increasing strength. A good deal has justly been made of the fact that in their widely-extended aggressive thrusts, the Japanese are spreading out both their land and naval forces very thinly. In the long run, as an Australian writer has observed, “Japan will find it difficult to sustain a series of attacks involving the use of fixed bases over 3,000 miles away from Tokio, especially if each of these involves separate, non-intersecting sea lanes. This has its bearing on the position and outlook in Burma as well as in the East Indian and other islands invaded or menaced by the enemy. For the time being, however, the Japanese are extending their hold on strategic areas and bases from many of which they are unlikely to be dislodged save at a heavy cost in lives. The greatest efforts of which the Allies are capable evidently are called for in halting and reversing this process and an effective stand is nowhere more obviously demanded than in Burma.