FIRST STEP

Wairarapa Times-Age, 22 December 1942, Page 3

FIRST STEP

TOWARDS REOCCUPATION OF BURMA THREAT TO ENEMY BASE AT AKYAB. POSSIBILITY OF NAVAL SUPPORT. (Special Australian Correspondent.) SYDNEY, December 21. The entry s ol.' the British troops into Burma is “the end of another beginning, and the beginning of a new chapter,” according to the British war news analyst, Morley Johnson. Though the Allied push does not indicate the opening ' of a large-scalp campaign, it may be the first phasp of an important operational sequence in which the likely developments remain necessarily obscure. “VZhile it may presage heavy fighting in the dry season, the present advance appears to be primarily an attempt to neutralise the Japanese air base at Akyab,” declares the “Sydney Morning Herald’s” military correspondent. Akyab must occupy a fundamentally important place in the Japanese offensive or .defensive strategy. In addition to being “a dagger pointed at the throat of India,” it also provides flanking air protection for the enemy forces in the heart of Burma. The area that has been occupied by our forces is about 60 miles north-west of Akyab, which was the last' supply port left by the Allies during their fighting retreat from Burma in May. It is the main port of western Burma and a fine base for enemy air raids round the northern part of the Bay of Bengal. Akyab is less than 100 miles from the Indian frontier, 160 miles from the important Chittagong railhead (it has been the advanced base for the Japanese fighters in the recent raids on Chittagong), and about 300 miles from Calcutta and the industrial centres in Bengal. “The Japanese are bound to treat the British advance seriously, and a cheap run of successes is not expected,” writes the “Sydney Morning Herald’s” war correspondent in India, H. A. Standish. Backed by mountainous country, Akyab is vulnerable only from the sea or from the northern territories which are now being occupied by the British and Indian forces. As reported in October, the presence in the Indian Ocean of a substantial British naval force, including at least three battleships and an aircraft-car-rier, indicates the possibility that a land drive against Akyab might be coordinated with a sea assault. “While it is premature to say that the present drive along the Arakan coast is the beginning of an offensive to regain Burma in accordance with General Wavell’s promise of three months ago, the redemption of Burnla must continue to be a major goal in the Allied policy,” says the “Herald’s” military writer. “The advance down the Arakan coast, however, would not provide the best strategical approach to this military problem. Any fullscale attack in Burma would probably include a move along the coast, but the main drive would surely come from farther north. “The Japanese communications in Upper -Burma must necessarily be extremely tenuous, because they follow the long valleys running from north to south. The British plan would be to turn against the Japanese that policy of ‘valley-hopping’ which the enemy used so skilfully in conquering the country earlier this year. Another reason for concentration upon the. north would be to establish a direct link with China, which is one of the prime reasons for the early reconquest of Burma. The need for aiding China is the greater in view of the Japanese activity against Yunnan.” Reports from India state that during the first slackening of the rains tens of thousands of coolies worked under military supervision, building strategic roads as supply routes for the present British advance. Though this may well be a mere local offensive measure to safeguard the approaches to India, it is regarded by many war commentators as'being of greater significance. MAGWE AERODROME ATTACKED SUCCESSFULLY ■ BY R.A.F. LONDON, December 21. The R.A.F. is keeping up its offensive against Japanese airfields in Burma. Blenheims, protected by fighters, attacked Magwe, on the Irrawaddy River. Pilots saw bombs burst right on the runways. Ah enemy, fighter which tried to interfere was shot down. One R.A.F. plane is missing. LARGE FIRES STARTED BY AMERICANS IN LASHIO. (By Telegraph—Press Association —Copyright) LONDON, December 21. American bombers attacked Japanese installations at Lashio, at the head of the Burma Road. They started fires which were seen for 60 miles. The bombe.rs returned without loss.