INDIA’S DEFENCE

Grey River Argus, 16 March 1942, Page 5

INDIA’S DEFENCE

GEN. WAVELL'S ACCOUNT

Air Force Main Means

[Aust. & N.Z. Cable Assn.] LOinDuin, Mare.n 13., General Sir Arcmoald vVavell, Commander in Cnief, India, at a press conference in New Delhi, outlined tne steps to oe taKen wr tne deience of India. He said tnat the Japanese, m spite or all tne*r succesess, would be nustrated if the Allies steadiast.y neid together. In outlining the steps to be taken for the deience of India, Sir Archibald said that a strong air force would be stationed in the north-east of India and that tne rivers and coast would be patrolled by small armoured vessel's as well as by the 'Navy. Lines of communication would be guarded as wen as river crossings. ■. > In tne event of invasion, it .would be the policy to nave mooile forces ready to attack instead of holding rixeu defence lines.

The fall of Rangoon, said Sir Archibald, was even a greater d.saster than the loss of Singapore, because it brought the war closer to India and threatened the closing of communication with China. In the defence of Rangoon, he said, reinforcements arrived too late, and they were not sufficientlv trained in that particular type of warfare. The Japanese had scored by the swiftness of their attack, but in spite of the strong pressure, the British troops had put up a very strong resistance. He would not say that mistakes had not been made in the defence of Rangoon. » Every effort had been made lo establish fresh fines of communication to compensate for the loss of Rangoon. The Japanese, he said, intended to pusn north to upper Burma in an attempt to cut the link with China, and to have near bases for an attack on India

A strong air force, said Sir Archibald, would be the principal means for the defence of India, and this was now being reinforced, together with the building of more aerodromes. “"When the military situation looks difficult, the best tonic is to look at the situation of the enemy,” said Sir Archibald, who added that Japan was perpetually menaced in. Manchuria, where the Russian danger was like a pistol pointed at the heart. Around her was a circle of mighty nations, mightier if Russia came m against her, and she was facing the greater part of the world.

MISTAKES ADMITTED. IN MALAYA AND BURMA. (Rec. 7.30). LONDON, March 13. General Wavell, in his statement at Delhi, said: “In an effort to save Malaya, we used troops which were not fully trained, and were not ac customed to jungle warfare. Thej were reinforcements trained for different warfare in the Western Desert. We had to fight with the front parallel to our communications in ./mg to defend Rangoon.. There undoubtedly were mistakes. I will not say that they were not made both during the preparations and the actual fighting. The enemy, undoubtedly, surprised us by the swiftness of his and by his skill in jungle warfare. Our troops fought with the greatest gallantry. Set-back For Enemy PREDICTED IN NORTH. (Rec. 10.0). LONDON, March 14. An Allied military leader in Chungking-. China, predicted after the completion of a fortnight’s tour of central and northern Burma, that Janan ma-- find an unpleasant surprise because the United. Nations forces in this area were prepared for a stand comparable to that of General MacArthur’s forces at Batan. This was because, firstly, of the presence of well-seasoned and wellequipped Chinese troops, whose numbers were being constantly augmented! secondly, a greater seasoning of British and Indian Regiments, who were rapidly becoming adept in jungle guerrilla fighting; thirdly, the expected arrivals of Allied planes to supplement the R.A.F. and American volunteer air forces now there: fourthly, the apparent Japanese error in stretching out their neck too far over extending supply lines in the Burma campaign. He said the Japanese may score initial 'successes, but. they would soon be stopped. He said that Chinese already were striking at the Japanese rear, and new successes similar to the recent Japanese rout at Changsha were not unlikely within a few weeks. LONDON, March 13.

No news has ; yet reached authoritative quarters in London of the result of the operations which this morning’s communique from Burma stated were taking place in the area north of Pegu. It is stated in London that the Chinese forces which have been reported to be fighting side by side with the British forces in Burma are first class troops. Though they have plenty of small arms, it is considered likely that they are lacking in heavy types of equipment. The situiition in Burma on the Prome road has been stabilised round Tharrawaddy, according to a ’ New Delhi press communique which is quoted by an agency report. Rangoon road operations are proceeding in the area of Nyaungleben and Shwegyin. Tharrawaddy is nearly 70 miles north of Rangoon, while Nyaungleben is 45 miles north of Pegu. CORRIDOR TO CHINA LONDON, March 15. ' A military expert expressed tl'O opinion that an important role of the British and Chinese forces in Burma is to protect a corridor between China and India. The new "Assam Road,” on the construction of which thousands of cooifes are toiling, is designed to connect Chungking via the south eastern fringes of Tibet with the rail head in north-eastern Assam at Sadiya. The country which it crosses is even more mountainous and difficult than that traversed by the original Burma Road, and ns creation must rank as a stupendous feat .of enterprise and endurance. Even if the through route were established, motor vehicles would still have a very rough passage until the worst gradients could be eased, bottle necks widened, and bridges improved. As with the Burma Road, this would mean frequent, delays and accidents. But although early completion is impossible, Chinese foresight and devotion have carried out a trail which may become very important before the war is over. In the expert’s view, the Burma Road is still capable of carrying to China such supplies as have accumulated at the Lashio railhead and of bringing up Chinese reinforcements. - In addition there remains the

famous route from central Russia through Sinkiang to Chungking, via Hanchow. Along this during" the early years of the Chinese-Japanese war the Russians sent a stream of lorries. With an improved surface and width, this road could become a life-line connecting China with the heavy industry of Siberia and the Urals.