CHINA'S LIFE LINE

Otago Daily Times, Issue 24912, 11 May 1942, Page 4

CHINA'S LIFE LINE

BURMA ROAD CUT ASSAM HIGHWAY ROUTE When the port of Rangoon was captured by the Japanese the value of the Burma road as the life line of the Chinese Army (states the New Zealand Herald) was limited to supplies already transported to the southern terminal of Lashio, or at least, "well on the way there. ' The optimistic statement was made on March 23 by Dr John Baker, United States inspector of the road, that China already had built up large supplies of war essentials and that further materials were then moving into China from the Soviet. Over this route from Russia, through Sinkiang to Chungking there was a stream of motor transport in the early yeaTs of the Chinese-Japanese war, but the distance is vast—-over 2500 miles—and now it is not likely that Russia can contribute supplies or facilitate the transport of shipments landed for China at her northern port. Great Difficulties It is not surprising, therefore, that prominence is being given to the possibilities of the Assam Highway as an alternative route to the Burma road. A commentator recently remarked; "In spite of the over-optimistic reports about this new route put out by the British Broadcasting Corporation the truth is that there is no alternative route nearly as good as the Burma road; in fact, the greatest part of the new ' road' is still probably no more than an unimproved caravan track traversing outliers of the Himalayan mountain mass." This caravan route starts from Sadiya. 'the terminal of the Assam railway, and follows the-Luhit Valley 230 miles to Drowa. It then winds over the Tila.Pass at an altitude of more than 10,000 feet and passes through Dayul Gompa to reach the known Chinese road system at Batang, 400 miles in all from Sadiya. Batang is 500 miles from-Chungking, but part of this distance is roaded. Work on the Chinese end of the Assam Highway was begun in March, 1940, and the Economist, two months ago, estimated that three-fifths, of the road had been completed. Seeing that heavy bridging is necessary, however, this figure may not present an accurate picture and there is vagueness of a marked character in the statement: "The Chinese estimate that the interval between the closing of.the Burma road and the opening of the Assam Highway will be short enough to guarantee survival." Another Alternative Yet" another alternative was mentioned by a correspondent on March 13: Without disclosing the route he stated that 100,000 coolies were employed in building a road which would' fink the Burma road at a point about half-way of its 1400 miles with the Assam railway to Sadiya. It was suggested that this link could be completed in 12 months; Since thten, however, the northern advance of the Japanese has been rapid and the question of its vulnerability must now arouse inquiry, even although the terrain may impose limitations upon a thrust from the south. The logic of the whole situation, saving a severe reverse to the Japanese, does not favour the Chinese supply question. '