CLOSER LINKS

Wairarapa Times-Age, 18 November 1943, Page 3

CLOSER LINKS

BETWEEN THE ALLIES & CHINA LORD MOUNTBATTEN’S VISIT. EXCELLENT RELATIONS ESTABLISHED. (By Telegraph—Press Association—Copyright) LONDON, November 17. From now on, there is likely to be a marked increase in contacts between Delhi and Chungking, says the correspondent of “The Times” at general headquarters in India. One of the first achievements of the new South-East Asia Command has been the reinforcement of operational links with China which are now undoubtedly closer' than at any time since the outbreak of the war. Admiral Mountbatten’s visit to President Chiang Kai-shek made a deep impression not only on President Chiang’s entourage, but also among Americans. Almost overnight a certain suspicion regarding Britain’s attitude to the war in the Far East has been more or less dispelled. Admiral Mountbatten has established excellent relations with the American generals with whom he lives in the same house. The appointment General Stilwell will hold has not yet been announced, but it is common knowledge that he will be very near Admiral Mountbatten. General de Wiart, who has been in Delhi for consultations will go to Chungking, where it is expected that .his personality will appeal to the Chinese. General de Wiart is likely to divide his time between the two headquarters. Probably a Chinese mission will be attached to Admiral Mountbatten’s headquarters and thus there is a most encouraging prospect of full cooperation between the two commands in planning the future offensive. Ideas regarding the significance of the Burma Road are beginning to change. Most political thought maintains that this link with the outside world must be restored and also the majority possibly sees the Burma Road, in spite of the comparatively small tonnage it carried, as a channel whereby a stream of arms and consumer go'ods might flow to China. But there is a small group of thinkers who apparently sees the problem in terms of amphibious operations. This school says: '“Let us get back- to the plains. Give us a port into which ships can c'ome, with a river behind.”

The correspondent adds that one school of thought seems to look at the war against Japan in terms of equipping vast armies in China and more or less marching to Tokio. Another sees

it as a series of amphibious operations along the coasts, culminating in great naval actions to crush Japanese sea power. Probably the answer lies in a combination of the two, but the difficulties of both methods are enormous till overwhelming strength can be brought into action.