Invasion Of India Thought Imminent

Northern Advocate, 10 April 1942, Page 3

Invasion Of India Thought Imminent

(Rec. 11 a.m.) CHUNGKING, April 9. General Pai Chang-shi, Deputy Chief of Staff in the Chinese Army, said today that a Japanese invasion of India was imminent. He predicted that the Chinese force in Burma would hold its ground if given adequate air support. The Chinese Army spokesman said today that the Japanese have dispatched reinforcements to northern Indo-China, apparently to discourage any large allocation of Chinese reinforcements to the Burma front.

The spokesman said the Japanese had built defence works in Burma, and expressed the opinion that Japanese air raids recently on strategic points in the Chekian and Kiangsu provinces were dictated by fear that these might be used as bases for Allied attacks against Japan. He said 3000 Japanese had been busy last week attempting to clear guerillas from the northern area, and the enemy had begun a southward drive at Hangkow, where guerillas were likewise active.

Thousands of elephants, camels, mules and horses are ready to open three new transportation circuits for war supplies to China via India, Mr. Wang Kuohwa, Director of the Animal Transportation Bureau, said today. Exploratory parties are blazing trails through the snow-covered mountains of north-west Burma and northeast India to replace the severed Burma link in the supply route from America.

The new animal transport system has already proved a great success in China, where some 20,000 miles are in operation, Mr. Wang added.