MAKING STAND

New Zealand Herald, Volume 79, Issue 24194, 9 February 1942, Page 5

MAKING STAND

DEFENDERS OP BUBMA FORCES AT MARTABAN CHINESE REINFORCEMENTS (Heed. 5.35 p.m.) LONDON, Feb. 7 The British forces afc Martaban, north of Moulmein, have taken up what is * seemingly a no-retreat stand, the Rangoon correspondent of the Daily Express. It is obvious that the Japanese High Command aims in the first place at the isolation, if not the occupation, of Rangoon, and secondly at cutting the Burma Road. The most important Allied forces have not yet been engaged, and the first big-scale battle for Burma is yet to come. A communique says that the situation on the Salween front has become quieter. The British forces shelled some enemy movement in the Paan area. Martaban was shelled spasmodically. but no damage or casualties have been reported. The Burma authorities have approved the use of Burma rice for Chinese soldiers, thus solving a troublesome problem. Hitherto the authorities feared that the Burmese would resent the diversion of foodstuffs for the Chinese troops. As a result of the agreement Chinese forces are now entering Burma in everincreasing numbers and at increasing speed. The Chungking newspaper Hupao reported that the Chinese authorities were rushing the transport to China of goods stored in Burma. Trucks are moving by day 'and night northward all along the road. BOMBERS FOR PACIFIC AMERICAN PRODUCTION WASHINGTON, Feb. 6 The United States will send an increasing number of bombers to the South-west Pacific, says the New York Post, United States plane output has reached a new high level and is growing rapidly. January production showed an enormous increase on December, and the months ahead will bring even happier results. New bomber assembly plants in the Middle-West States will come into production in the next three months and by June production may jump by 50 per cent. Washington is confident that by August or September the United States will be able to meet the major needs for planes on the active fronts, at least in terms of adequate defence. In 1943 production will be great enough to warrant gigantic air offensives wherever the Allies choose to make them.

RETIREMENT SOUGHT HAWAII COMMANDERS (Reed, 10.30 p.m.) WASHINGTON, Feb. 8 Following a report that Admiral Husband E. Kim mel, formerly United States naval commander at Hawaii, intended to retire, the Secretary for War, Mr. H. L. Slim son. announced that Lieutenant-Genera 1 Walter Short, Army Commander at Hawaii, had also applied for'retirement. If the applications were granted each would receive retirement pay of 6000 dollars a year. Admiral Kirnmel and General Short were relieved of thnir commands following the surprise Japanese attack on Hawaii on December 7. EGYPTIAN PARLIAMENT DISSOLUTION ANNOUNCED REASSEMBLES IN MARCH (Beerl. 7.30 p.m.) LONDON, Feb. 7 The Egyptian Parliament has been dissolved, and is reassembling on March <i after the elections. Nahas Pasha has been appointed military governor. Official quarters in London regard the formation of a new Egyptian Cabinet bv the Wafdist Party under Nahas Pasha" as a most satisfactory solution of the political crisis which recently arose in Cairo. Letters exchanged between Nahas Pasha and the British Ambassador, Sir Miles Lampson, demonstrate that the relations between Great Britain and Egypt are cordial, and that mutual understanding exists as before. 200 ARRESTS AT ROUEN (Reed. 0.30 p.m.) VICHY, Feb. 7 Two hundred persons have been arrested at Rouen following the discovery of explosive in an area occupied by the Germans. , , , The curfew hour was advanced to 2 p.m. after an attack on a German sentry. '