NEW POSITIONS IN BURMA

Press, Volume LXXVIII, Issue 23586, 13 March 1942, Page 5

NEW POSITIONS IN BURMA

Enemy Drive West From Rangoon

BRITISH NEED OF REINFORCEMENTS

(.Received March 12, 11 p.m.) OJ.P.A.) LONDON. March 12. There is no fresh news from the Central Burma front, nor of the drive which the Japanese appear to be making towards Bassein, 90 miles due west of Rangoon. “Burma wants reinforcements and unless the demand is soon answered the British forces there will be placed in a difficult position before the tide turns,” says the Mandalay correspondent of the British United Press.

“It is known that large Japanese concentrations still in line north of Thailand are concentrated at Chieng Mai. The British forces are taking up new positions in the southern area of Central Burma. The right flank, which was resting on Rangoon, is now swinging north, leaving the enemy the entire Irrawaddy delta; but as the Japanese press northwards the Chinese are expected to play an increased part. “The Chinese forces in the Shan States last month claimed to have made contact with enemy patrols on the IndoChina frontier, but there is no further news of activity there. The Shan States are vital as a buffer protecting the British left flahk, now that Rangoon has gone.” A communique from General Sir Archibald Wavell’s headquarters in New Delhi says that there is a temporary lull in Burma and that the British troops have withdrawn further north. In raids on Moulmein. one British machine dropped six bombs on oil tanks and also attacked enemy aeroplanes on the'ground. The Berlin radio, quoting the Tokyo radio, said that all Rangoon was burning. “The British spared nothing from destruction and removed everything movable,” it said.

ADVICE TO LEAVE CEYLOX

PERSONS NOT NORMAL RESIDENTS (Received March 12, 11 p.m.) LONDON, March 12, A British United Press message from Colombo says that Vice-Admiral Sir Geoffrey Layton has advised all persons not normally resident in Ceylon to leave the island unless they are employed on essential war work.

CHRISTMAS ISLAND SHELLED

VICHY RADIO REPORT (Received March 12, 7 p.m.) LONDON, March 11. The Vichy radio reports that Japanese naval ships shelled . Christmas Island, south of Java. It is claimed that military installations were damaged.

ATROCITIES IX HOXG KOXG

MESSAGE TO JAPANESE RED CROSS

LONDON, March 11

Torn by anxiety at the news of Japanese atrocities in Hong Kong, relatives of British men and women left in Hong Kong have besieged the Colonial Office seeking information about the fate of husbands, wives, sons, and daughters. An official said that nothing further had been heard of the garrison or of the women who had stood by them. There was no news of further escapes. The British Red Cross has sent a cablegram to the International Red Cross in Geneva for transmission to the Japanese Red Cross, as follows: — “The British Red Cross is appalled at the Japanese troops’ treatment of prisoners of war and Asiatic and European civilians in Hong Kong. We beg you to draw the attention of Prince Shimadzu. president of the Prisoners of War Relief Section of the Japanese Red Cross, to the announcements of torture and indignities to which British nationals have been subjected after the occupation of Hong Kong. Please request him to take every step to give Red Cross protection to the unfortunate captives and to ensure that such treatment does not occur in future.” Argentina, which represents Britain and Canada in the Far East, has already made representations to Tokyd and is now seeking to send an observer to Hong Kong. It is reported that Argentina has asked for Japanese permission for a British ship to carry food and medical supplies to Hong Kong and Singapore.

“ ONE GOOD MAN TO CONTROL”

VAN MOOK ON ALLIED STRATEGY

CANBERRA, March 12. One good man to control the Allied plans was essential to the defeat of the Japanese, said the Lieutenant-Gover-nor-Gencral of. the Netherlands East Indies (Dr. H. J. van Mook) at a press conference in Canberra. This man. he added, should work under the direction of a properly constituted Pacific War Council. “The main lesson to be learnt from Japan's campaigns in Malaya and the Netherlands East Indies is the need for (ho Allies to organise as effectively as the Japanese.” he declared. In the past, we have had too many cross currents, too much uncertainty, and ton many cross purposes. We need unified political control near the seat of operations, and one good man to contiol all operations. “Among several countries, it is dimcult to get co-ordination without a unified command. You cannot jvage war by ringing up, telegraphing, and having discussions beforehand. You must act quickly.”

MADAGASCAR AND

AXIS

ASSURANCES BY VICHY TO U.S.

(8.0. W.) RUGBY. March 11. “The Vichy Goverment has sent the American Government formal assurances that Madagascar will not be permitted to fall under Axis control, said the United States Under-Secretary of State (Mr Sumner Welles) in Washington. Mr Welles added that this assurance had arrived nine or 10 days ago. and about the same time Marshal Petam had communicated with Mr Roosevelt, assuring him that France intended to remain neutral and would not consider handing the Frepch Fleet to the Axis for war purposes. The Prime Minister of South Africa (General Smuts > said in the South African Assembly that South Africa was on friendly relations with Vichy, and that South Africa had not. the least idea of aggression unless Madagascar was used as an enemy base.