Wairarapa Times-Age MONDAY, MAY 4, 1942. BAD NEWS FROM BURMA.

Wairarapa Times-Age, 4 May 1942, Page 2

Wairarapa Times-Age MONDAY, MAY 4, 1942. BAD NEWS FROM BURMA.

an immediate view there can be no doubt about the damaging effect of the rapid advance in Burma in which the Japanese have cut the principal supply route to China and deprived, the Allies of their last Asiatic source of oil supplies. Both the British and Chinese forces evidently have acquitted themselves most gallantly in opposing the invaders and are still doing so, but it is unhappily clear that they are handicapped hopelessly for the time being by inferior numerical strength and equipment and the lack of sufficient air support.

An invasion of India, is now directly, or almost directly threatened and while it may be hoped that in spite of what has been well described as the unrealistic attitude ol the Congress Party, the invasion of India will prove to be an undertaking of great difficulty, it is not to be denied that the Japanese have derived some very considerable advantages from the extended success they have gained in Burma. For example, they have not only cut. the Allied main communications with China, but, have to a very material extent improved their own eonimunications. The advance in. which they have cut the Burma Road has also given them possession of cross-country road and other communications by which they will be able to bring men and supplies overland from Bangkok.

A great deal must depend, in the immediate future, not only upon the pitch of defensive organisation, attained in India, but upon the practicable scale of Allied attacks by air and otherwise upon Japanese home territory and upon the various island and other bases the Asiatic Axis Power has seized in. the Pacific. There is eVen. at this stage a. good deal to be set against Hile very considerable measure of success Japan has gained by invasion and conquest. Iler available forces arc spread over immense areas and her lines of communication extend over great, distances. In her rather spectacular course of conquest, Japan has suffered losses, particularly of naval and other shipping and aircraft, which it may be hoped will impose an ever-increasing strain upon her total military resources as time goes on.