DEFENCE OF INDIA

Wairarapa Times-Age, 4 March 1942, Page 3

DEFENCE OF INDIA

IMPORTANCE EMPHASISED IN U.S.A. SUPPLY MISSION PROJECTED. DISTRIBUTION OF MATERIALS. (By Telegraph—Press Association—Copyright) NEW YORK, March 3. The Washington correspondent of the “New York Times” says the United States will send an important supply mission to India soon for the purpose of helping in the defence of India and assisting in the distribution of war materials from India to China and the other United Nations, ’forces in the Middle Eastern theatres of war. The decision to send the mission, which will probably be headed by a personal representative of President Roosevelt, gives evidence of the growing realisation of the United. States of India’s importance to the war effort. With Rangoon cut off and Burma neutralised by the recent Japanese operations, India has become the centre from which Icase-lend goods are being shipped to China. At the same time the Japanese successes in the south-west Pacific have raised serious doubts in Washington about the wisdom of sending large quantities of materials to the southwest Pacific lest they be intercepted en route or seized by the Japanese upon their arrival. Consequently, officials here now consider it wiser to make secure the defences of India, '■ particularly of Ceylon and the two main ports of entry, Calcutta and Bobbay. If these points can be held it is hoped that, despite the closing of the Burma road and the penetration of the Japanese to the Indian Ocean, the United Nations may be able to convoy materials to the central supply base in India for distribution to any theatre of war in that part of the'world. American technicians will also assist in increasing the Indian output of small arms for Indian soldiers in order to strengthen the defences of India for the expected Japanese assault, which officials here believe is inevitable.