NEWS FROM BURMA

Otago Daily Times, Issue 25514, 19 April 1944, Page 5

NEWS FROM BURMA

OPERATIONS OF CENSORS!# DEVELOPMENTS OBSCURED (Rec. 9 p.m.) LONDON, Apl. 17. The British national newspapers in India to-day protested to the authorities against the operation of the military censorship in India, particularly with reference to the Burma fighting. Correspondents in Burma yesterday advised their offices that they were ceasing to file copy until the censorship position improved. The New Delhi correspondent of the British United Press says: ‘‘ While expressing confidence in the military leaders conducting the Burma campaign, some of the Indian newspapers, including The'Times of India, are calling for a clearer picture of the progress of operations and developments at present hidden behind obscure official phraseology.

“ It is known, however, that the Japanese have established a sizeable roadblock on another track across the hills from Bishenpore to Silchar, which is Imphal’s only remaining land link with India. The Japanese have also pushed to within 10 miles of Imphal, where they have been for a’number of days lighting for the possession of strategic hill features. Other Japanese forces are doing the same thing between Paleltamu and the Tiddem road, apparently with the intention of containing British troops in Manipur Valley. Moreover, a Japanese force in some strength is attacking Kohima, possession of which would permit the enemy to concentrate on Imphal. A Familiar Pattern “ The battle so far has followed the familiar pattern of the Burma and Malaya campaigns in 1942,” the correspondent continues, “ with the difference that the British this time have held on to their positions. All the information available indicates that ttie Japanese have lost heavily, and. have almost reached the limits of their offensive strength, though they may tie bringing up reinforcements. The British also are bringing up reinforcements, and have begun to clear the Japanese Dimapur and Imphal roadblocks, but it is not clear Whether this is the beginning of the awaited British offensive or not. It seems pretty certain that the British have known for almost two years that the Japanese might attempt an invasion of Manipur. They must have plans for dealing with the situation. Those plans may now be coming into operation, and may form one of the reasons for the lacK of news.”

“,It has been evident for a long time that things are not going as well as they might in Burma,” says the Daily Mail in a leading article. “None of the three campaigns in that country has so far fulfilled its early promise. Even more disturbing is the implication that our troubles there may have developed from differences of opinion behind the lines. More than one report to that effect has appeared here and in America. Picture Not Reassuring “The whole picture is too obscure to be reassuring,” the paper continues. “What the public needs more than anything is a clear statement showing exactly what is going on in Burma and why some of our hopes have been disappointed; yet, it is at this moment that five British correspondents cable that they feel unable to continue sending messages because one despatch, on which they spent five days, has been completely suppressed. What that despatch contained we, of course, do not know, but there never was a time when there was more need for accredited correspondents to keep people at home in daily touch with events.” The Daily Mail recalls the misgivings expressed a week ago about the happenings on the Manipur front, despite General Auchinleck’s optimism and the cheery tone of the official communiques. It was stated that the Japanese in the Kohima area had been beaten off and were having a bad time in Manipur, “ but,” the Daily Mail continues, “yesterday it came out that the Japanese at one time actually cut the road from Kohima to Dimapur, which is a supply base on the BengalAssam railway. This seemed to show that the Japanese menace was greater than generally supposed in Britain. To minimise unfavourable situations and to slur over setbacks is the worst possible policy. If things go seriously wrong explanations are apt to be awkward.”

It has been stated that there were differences between General Auchinleck and Lord Louis Mountbatten and between Lord Louis and General Stilwell, that the India Command had never favoured the Wingate expedition, that little help was coming from the Chinese, and that General Stilwell and General Chennault did not see eye to eye. The effect of this proliferation of rumours must be bad on the army in India and in Burma, and cannot have a good effect on public opinion.