GRAVE NEW THREAT TO BURMA

Timaru Herald, Volume CLI, Issue 22201, 19 February 1942, Page 5

GRAVE NEW THREAT TO BURMA

Japanese Reinforced for Big Offensive Chinese Forces Ready to Defend Supply Route By Telegraph—Press Association (Rec. 10.30 p.m.) CHUNGKING, February 17. A CHINESE spokesman said that a large number of Chinese troops were being continuously moved to bolster the Burma defences. The Japanese High Command was apparently making extensive preparations for a grand offensive against Burma. The Japanese landed 30,000 troops at Haiphong recently. There were already two divisions of Japanese in Burma and more were now available from Malaya. The landing of 30,000 Japanese at Haiphong constitutes a grave new threat to Burma, says the Rangoon correspondent of the “Daily Express.” It can be assumed that they are by now in positions to attack the railway that runs from Haiphong 220 miles to the Chinese border, then 160 miles to the city of Yunnan. The first major action by the Chinese in defence of the Burma Road seems imminent. Marshal Chiang Kai-shek’s forces are not unprepared, and the Chinese have been concentrating on the Yunnan Province ever since the Japanese seized Indo-China last July. The “Daily Express” adds that, while this army is pushing towards Yunnan, another is likely to reinforce the troops at the Bilin River. The Rangoon correspondent of “The Times” says a military observer reveals that European officers have on several occasions been seen accompanying the Japanese south-east of Burma.

It is officially stated from Rangoon that there is no change in the situation, The British forces are In position on the west bank of the Billn River. Half an hour after the last British troops left Thaton the Japanese began to occupy the town. The British withdrawal was accomplished with only minor clashes between the rearguards cf Gurkhas and other Indian troops and the Japanese. It is reported unofficially that immediately afterwards Royal Air Force bombers attacked the town, blasting warehouses containing supplies left by the withdrawn troops, and the railway station. They also destroyed a section of the railway linking Thaton and Moulmein. The Japanese forces In the Thaton sector are now north of Rangoon. The enemy strategy is undoubtedly to develop a sweep to the westward menacing Pegu, about 50 miles north of Rangoon, and thus constitute a serious threat to the Burma Road and the important railway link with Mandalay. However, strong British forces bar the way. There is confidence that the British forces will hold the present line. It is understood that LieutenantGeneral Hutton is determined to fight with all the men and materials at his disposal to hold Rangoon and the Burma road. The new Chinese armies will undoubtedly also play a prominent role.

Rangoon is hastily putting the finishing touches to its defences. The population nas dwindled In a few weeks from 400,000 to 150,000, and the evacuation of non-essential workers has been nearly completed. The spokesman of the Ministry of Economics at Chungking declared that if the Burma road falls, aeroplanes will have to ferry essential war r .aterlals to the Chinese war factories. According to the Paris radio the Japanese are 30 miles from P r gu. The Rangoon correspondent of the "Daily Mall" says that the Japanese on some parts of the Billn river front are only 30 miles from the RangoonLashio railway. A narrow valley encloses the Bilin river. Mountains rise on the western side to a height of more than 3000 feet. The British troops drawn up on this line—Bo miles from Rangoon—expect heavy attacks. A Reuter agency report states that the Japanese army and air force now hope to concentrate on their new front in Burma, and to pay due regard to transport through the Straits of Malacca. There have been no reports of enemy air raids on Rangoon. In the Moulmein area, British bombers and fighters attacked a number of enemy positions, stores, and transports. In the same area reconnaissance flights were carried out over enemy territory.