JAPAN’S NEW MOVES

Timaru Herald, Volume CLI, Issue 22201, 19 February 1942, Page 4

JAPAN’S NEW MOVES

ALTHOUGH it is not yet possible to know what Japan’s longterm strategic plans are, there is evidence to show what her immediate intentions are. Her offensive operations are now developing strongly at two points. The first is in the Netherlands East Indies. This was to be expected after the capture of Singapore. The attack, in fact, was launched before Singapore fell. If is possible that Sumatra and Java will present serious problems to the attackers, and for this reason there is some likelihood that the strongest Japanese assault will be made in Burma. The Japanese are desperately anxious to strike a mortal blow against Free China and the only way in which this might be done is by severing the Burma supply route completely. In viewing the probable lines of development in the Japanese attack it must be remembered that Japan is not for the present playing a lone hand. The Japanese are partners in the Axis and their moves must be dictated by the general need's of Axis strategy. That is why concentration of force against Burma is probable. This, if it succeeded, would help the Japanese to satisfy two separate strategic needs. First, it would seriously reduce China’s capacity to continue her struggle; second, possession of Rangoon would provide another useful springboard for naval and air sorties into the Indian Ocean. Supplies to Russia must travel either by the northern sea route, or by sea to the Middle East. Japan would be giving considerable assistance to Germany if she could expose Indian Ocean traffic to sea and air raiders. Already the ~ British forces in

southern Burma are under pressure and the enemy has made some progress toward Rangoon, his chief objective. Now there are reports that two Japanese divisions have crossed the Indo-China frontier into Burma with the object ol attacking the Burma Road from the north. I’he Chinese, however, will have been expecting this move and it is ahpost certain that effective preparations have been made to meet it. The battles to come in Burma will be of vital importance to China, but they will he of equal consequence to the British Empire and the Allies generally.