THRUST HELD.

Ashburton Guardian, Volume 62, Issue 86, 22 January 1942, Page 6

THRUST HELD.

JAPANESE STRATEGY IN BURMA. _ # DIFFICULT DEFENCE PROBLEM. (Rec. 11.35 a.m.) LONDON, Jan. 21. A message from Rangoon states that the combined threat of the Japanese thrust toward Moulmein is held north of Mivawaddy. The Japanese occupation of Tavoy indicates Japan’s intention to consolidate the occupation of territory between the Bay of Bengal and the Gulf of Siam, thus securing lines in the rear of the Malayan armies, says the Rangoon radio. More Japanese thrusts into Burma must be expected in the immediate future.

The Associated Press correspondent at RangoPn says that the Japanese strategy of piecemeal occupation of exposed areas in South Burma lias produced for the defence a very difficult problem which will remain until the British forces in Burma, reach offensive strength. Moulmein is less vulnerable than Tavov, but is by no means ideal for a decisive stand. It is only 15 minutes’ flying from three Japanese air bases and the Japanese appear at 1 present to be making it their primary air target. Swamps and bridgeless rivers separate it from Rangoon and other points to which the garrison, if outnumbered, could make an orderly withdrawal. The optimistic assumptions formerly encouraged here were that all the available Japanese strength was concentrated in the struggles for Malaya and the Philippines and that Japanese activity in Burma would be indefinitely confined to frontier raids, also that the Allied garrisons in South Burma could be easily reinforced by sea. All these assumptions have been revised, T ~ ’