JAPANESE AIMS

Wairarapa Times-Age, 2 April 1942, Page 3

JAPANESE AIMS

MAIN THRUST TOWARDS INDIA? OPINIONS IN LONDON. POSITION IN BURMA & BAY OF BENGAL. (British Official Wireless.) RUGBY, March 31. London military observers note that the strongest Japanese effort appears at present to be developing in the direction of India. While in Burma large forces are thrusting up the Irrawaddy and Sittang Valleys, the Japanese have strengthened their position in the Bay of Bengal and the Indian Ocean generally by occupying the Andamans. The latter move extends the chain of islands in Japanese possession between New Guinea and Lower Burma and places hostile forces 800 miles from the British naval base at Trincomalee, in Ceylon. The Japanese superiority in numbers in Burma evidently enables them to go round obstacles and attack the defenders from the rear. On the other hand, the inadequate communications between Burma and India have put the Allies in an unfavourable position for sending reinforcements and air support to the troops in Burma. The wild, hilly nature of eastern Burma favours the Chinese infantry, who have succeeded in raiding northern Thailand, but the open country between Rangoon and Mandalay offers a field of advance to the numerous, wellsupplied Japanese troops.