RECOVERY OF BURMA

Wairarapa Times-Age, 28 September 1942, Page 4

RECOVERY OF BURMA

PLANNED BY SIR A. WAVELL EVER SINCE IT WAS LOST. VIEWS ON ASIATIC WAR & SECOND FRONT. (British Official Wireless.) (Received This Day, 12.5 p.m.) RUGBY, September 27. The Commander-in-Chief in India (General Sir A. Wavell) disclosed in New Delhi that he had been planning the reoccupation of Burma ever since it was lost. He said it must be retaken in order ■ to obtain positions from which to take Japanese-occupied bases and also for a drive on the Japanese themselves. He did not think Japan was strong enough in the air to take on a campaign on three

fronts —India, China and Australia —while having a strong force in Japan and having to guard against a potential enemy in Siberia. The Indian theatre of war was feeling the effect of the battle of the seas, General Wavell said, but he was getting supplies and building up as quickly as possible. Dealing with second front possibilities, General Wavell said: “Whatever happens, the Russians are going to hold on and we are going to open a second front as soon as we can.” He admitted that there were still five weeks of the best campaiging weather in Russia ahead, and warned against complacency in considering winter fighting, but said he was not pessimistic about the chances of Stalingrad’s survival. Referring to the situation in Germany, General Wavell said the effect of heavy and damaging raids on German morale was conjectural, but the enemy knew the menace was growing. “It is spirit and staying power that wins,” he concluded.