INDIA-BURMA FRONTIER

Press, Volume LXXVIII, Issue 23809, 1 December 1942, Page 5

INDIA-BURMA FRONTIER

POSSIBLE ALLIED INITIATIVE

“ PROMISING OFFENSIVE BASE ” (N.Z, Press Association—Copyright.)

(Rec, 7 p.m.) NEW YORK, Nov. 29, “General Wavell will soon be in a position to assume the initiative on the India-Burma frontier,” says Mr Joseph C. Harsch, writing in the “Christian Science Monitor.” “Recent events in Russia, Africa, and the Solomons have suddenly elevated India and Burma to the world’s most important passive front,” he says, "transforming India from a plum ripe for easy plucking into a promising 'offensive base. Hitler’s defeat in Russia has removed the danger of the Japanese and Germans joining hands -la India, while Japan’s naval defeats in the Pacific nave made impossible a sea-borne Japanese invasion of India. “Now, for the first time since- the Japanese conquered Burma, General Wavell is free to concentrate on the Japanese front. The Japanese realise that they could better afford to lose Rabaul than to have the Burma road reopened, That is the true reason for the Japanese troop and air concentrations in Burma. It is not beyond possibility that they will shift their air and naval weight from the Pacific to Bengal in order to accept battle with General Wavell, who will soon be in a position to assume the initiative.” R.A.F. ATTACK AT MAGWE (Roc. 11 p.m.) LONDON. Nov. 30 Royal Air Force fighters over Burma yesterday made a low-level machine-gun and cannon attack on the Japanese airfield at Magwo, 150 miles east of Akyab. They damaged aerodrome buildings and set a petrol dump on fire. GERMAN VESSEL SCUTTLED NAVAL CLASH WEST OF AUSTRALIA (Rec. 11 p.m.) SYDNEY, Nov. 30. An 8000-ton German auxiliary ship was scuttled by its crew off the west coast of Australia after a clash with Allied naval forces. Seventy-eight German prisoners were taken. This was announced to-day by General MacArthur’s headquarters, but the date and exact location of the | sinking were not disclosed. It was not stated whether the auxiliary was a rr ’ ’.or, an armed merchantman, or a supply ship. The composition and size of the intercepting Allied naval forces has not been announced. GOVERNMENT OF AUSTRALIA EXTRA POWERS FOR COMMONWEALTH (Rcc. 11.30 p.m.) CANBERRA, Nov. 30. The Australian Constitution Convention. representing the State 11 and Federal Governments, to-day unanimously agreed to grant the Commonwealth increased powers for post-war reconstruction. The decision followed an announcement by the Prime Minister (Mr J. Curtin) that the Federal Government was prepared to accept a proposal of the Tasmanian Premier (Mr R. Cosgrove) for the delegation of powers to the Commonwealth by the states. The period of these extra powers will be not less than five and not more than seven years. The Curtin Government still preferred a referendum, but was willing to give the transference of powers from the states a trial. A referendum may still be held before the termination of the period of extra powers. A committee has been appointed to suggest details of the proposed extra powers. U.S. OPERATIONS IN SOLOMONS PATROL ACTIVITY ON GUADALCANAR (8.0. W.) RUGBY, Nov. 29. The United States Navy Department states: “United States forces on Guadalcanar Island, in the Solomons, have been engaged in minor patrol activity to consolidate their positions, “American aircraft also carried out a night attack on enemy shipping in the Munda Bay area of the New Georgia Islands. Minor Japanese activity has been observed recently in Munda Bav. Japanese destroyers have shelled native villages of the western islands of the New Georgia group.” AMERICAN RAIDS ON CANTON (Roe. 7 p.m.) NEW YORK. Nov. 29. “American fighters and bombers have destroyed at least 23 and probably 28 Japanese fighters, and sunk two largo cargo ships during their third raid on Canton in four days.” says the correspondent of the United Press of America with the American Air Force in China. He adds: “The harbour is strewn with the wreckage of at least 100 barges. Large fires were started. “The American raiding force, which was the most powerful yet used in China, was completely unscathed.” CHRISTCHURCH MAN AT ORAN TELEGRAPHIST’S PART IN LANDING (Special Correspondent N.Z.P.A.) LONDON, Nov. 29. “It was a piece of t ke compared with Dieppe,” was the comment by a Christchurch man, Telegraphist R. N. Mitchell, who went ashore with an j American armoured company near Oran. “We went ashore at 2 a.m„” he said. “It was a clear night, the sea was calm, and we were feeling a big pent up before jumping out into four feet of water, but we met no opposition. “My job was to maintain communications between shore and ship. We snuggled down with our wireless sets] by the side of a fish factory until dawn, and we then moved into two houses, 1 “It was amusing to see (he surprise of the local residents the next morning. They were mostly Arabs and Spaniards, who were refugees from General Franco. They gave us a hearty welcome. We later sqent two days on the other side of Oran. I have now! been some time with the Yankees, and they are a great crowd,” j Telegraphist Mitchell took part in the j Dieppe raid, which, he said, was "decidedly active.” 1 Chief Justice of India.—The King) has approved the appointment of MiWilliam Spens. 0.8. E., K.C.J M.P., to be Chief Justice of India, in succession to Sir Maurice Gwyer, who is due to retire on April 25. Mr Spens will take office on his arrival in India, which is expected during the summer. —Rugby, November 29.