DEFENCE VITAL

New Zealand Herald, Volume 79, Issue 24189, 3 February 1942, Page 2

DEFENCE VITAL

IMPORTANCE OF BURMA

BASE FOR ALLIED ATTACK

ALTERNATIVE TO SINGAPORE

SYDNEY, Jan. 21 For a long time now Burma lias been recognised as a back door to Free China. If Singapore and the Philippines should be put out of action, it will also become the back door through which a renewed thrust to the Pacific will have to be undertaken. It is of vital importance, therefore, that Burma be well defended' and made a secure base for offensive action against the Japanese. Burma is of most irregular shape. Its extreme length north to south is 1200 miles, east to cvest 575 miles. In the north-east there is a distinct bulge toward Indo-China, while for 500 miles or so to the south of Rangoon the width of the country gradually decreases as it tapers down into the Malay Peninsula, finally petering out at Victoria Point. In general, it may he said that Burma is fortunate in having natural barriers, largely impassable, facing its enemies. In the north and north-east of Burma is the Shan Plateau, some 3500 ft. high, with certain peaks rising to 8000 ft. Hereon lie the North Shan States and the South Shan States. The Shan States Many of these States are undeveloped, and their population is sparse. The country is dissected by range after range of mountains, and there is usually only one good road winding snakelike over the mountain passes to connect the capital towns. This Shan Plateau is part of the great Yunnan Plateau of China, and begins abruptly some 400 miles to the north of Rangoon. It is through this wild plateau that the socalled Burma Boad runs from Lashio (in the North Shan States') to Kunming in Yunnan. In the South Shan States a railway runs to Taunggvn. on the plateau, and thence to a mountain road for nearly 400 miles to the Kengtung border, facing both Indo-China and Thailand To the east of the Salween River which runs north to south through th< Shan Plateau, the road is so narrow and dangerous that only one-way traffic is allowed The road suffers from land slides, and is often blocked bv fallen trees. Eastern Boundary South from the Shan States, and forming the eastern boundary ot Burma, stretches a series of mountain ranges, a branch of which continues as far south as Victoria Point, in Ten rtasserim Until war broke out the boundaries were guarded only bv the Burma Frontier Force, but gradually other_troops, especially Indian, have taken up positions on the frontier facing Thailand The railway from Rangoon stops short at Moulmein. at the mouth of the Salween River. and?r the district south is served nnlv bv the small ports ,of Tavov and Mergiii The district possesses few good roads and there arc several short swiftly-flowing rivers to the Bilauktaung Range facing Thai land Farther north. Rangoon, the port ot disembarkation of reinforcements from India, is suffering a great deal from air raids A little to the south of Ran goon lies Svriam. the site of the oil refinery, to which a nipeline leads some 300 miles from the imnortant at Yenangyaung and Chauk to f west of the Trrnwaddv River. ■** Rangoon's Guardian Rangoon has been preparing for a long time for, air raids. It has as cliiei of its efficient Air Raid Precautions Service an expert who was in London during the "blitz" ot last year. A large part of the civil population has already been evacuated Its guardian aerodrome at Mingaladon, '2O miles to the north, is now one of the largest and best in the East, The Centra] Plains of Burma, through which flows the Irrawaddy, are the country's most populous regions Through them from Rangoon there are excellent connections with the north by rail, road, and river The mighty Irra waddy is navigable as far as Bhamo, near the Chinese frontier. It is not likely that river traffic can be seriously interfered with by bombing. There is no doubt that the oil, teak rice, wolfram, tin, and silver of Burma will be vigorously defended against Japanese attack Unlike Malaya, which gets some rain throughout the year Burma is a Monsoon country The rains are heaw They begin about the middi*' of Mav and finish »t the ernl of Soptember, and over a hundred inches ot Tain falls within this period October is fine and very hot ! hen in November begins the cool, dry season, when the weather is perfect until February hot (though continuing to be dry) in March, April and May , until the rains start again.