WAVELL’S PLAN

Wanganui Chronicle, Volume 86, Issue 63, 16 March 1942, Page 5

WAVELL’S PLAN

DEFENCE OF INDIA STRONGER AIR FORCE BEING ’ BUILT IN NORTH-EAST (By Telegraph—Press Association —Copyright.) London, March 13. I General Wavell, Commandcr-in-Chief, India, has outlined plans for the defence of that country, and has i reviewed the situation in the light of I the Japanese menace. He declared at New Delhi to-day ’ that Japan, in spite of her successes, must feel that, she is doomed if we are steadfast and hold together, . He was speaking at his Press con--1 ference and outlining plans for the 1 defence of India if the Japanese attempt an invasion. These include the building of a strong air force in North-east India • to attack the enemy, the patrolling of 1 rivers and the coa;t small armed ships as well as b v the Navy, the asi sembly of a mobile force for action l within striking distance of a point, and the defence of .important centres i of communication and other places. Invasion, he said. v. culd be met by mobility, and not hy any attempt to hold defensive lines. Malaya Over Again. Speaking with reference to the loss of Rangoon and a large part of Lower Burma, General Wavell said that this was in some respects a more serious blow than the loss of Singapore because it brought the war closer to India and threatened communications with China. The same story applied to Burma as to Malaya. We were not sufficiently prepared. Reinforcements arrived too ; late, and some cr these were noi ! sufficiently trainc-a. , In Malaya the High Command was . compelled to put in the field troops that they realised were not as fully trained as they would have wished, and with little or no training in this I | particular form o' warfare. Speaking ot the Battle Gf Rangoon, General Waveh said that undoubtedly there were mistakes in our operations and in the actual I’ghting. The enemy undoubtedly surprised us by the swiftness of his advance and the skill of his warfare in country to which our troops were not accustomed. Tn spite of these circumstances, our , troops fought with the greatest stead- ! fastness. Compensating For Rangoon. Dealing with the future, Genera! 1 Wavell said we making every ■ effort to form fresh lines of communi--3 cat'on to compensate for the loss )1 ■ Rangoon. There was little doubt that ’ the Japanese would endeavour to push then advance into Upper Burma to cut the link with China and obtain bases from which India might be attacked or threatened. That was the immediate danger. After referring to the building of a s+rong air foice in the north-east, General Wavell said that more reinforcements were arriving, and that more aerodrome 4 were being built, while the defences against air attack were improving almost daily. Turning to Japan, he said that when a military position looked serious and difficult the best tonic was to look at the difficulties of the enemy. Japan always had to consider the danger from Manchuria, where the Russian position was like a pistol pointed r at her heart. Around her were 5 mighty nations mightier still if ■ Russia came in—whom she had to face, including almost the greater i part of the inhabitants of the world. SURPRISE IN STORE i 1 ALLIES WELL PREPARED (Reed. 7.30 p.m.) London, March 14. An Allied military leader at Chungking predicted after completion of a } fortnight’s tour of central and northern Burma, that Japan may find an ‘ unpleasant surprise because the ■ United Nations forces in this area are ■ prepared lor a stand comparable to 3 General MacArthur's at Bataan be- ■ cause of, firstly, tne presence of well- ■ seasoned and well-equipped Chinese ' troops, whose numbers are being con- ■ stantly augmented; secondly, a greater seasoning of British and - Indian regiments who are rapidly be- • coming adept at jungle and jxicirilla I lightmg; thirdlv, the expected arrivals i of Allied plai es to supplement R.A.F. ami American volunteer air forces now there:-fourthly the apparent 1 Japanese error in stretching out i their neck too tar over extending - supply lines in the Burma campaign. The Japanese mav score initial successes but they would soon be stopped, he said. The Chinese were already striking at th? Japanese rear and new successes similar to the recent Japanese rout at Changsha were not unlikely within a few weeks. < RUSSIAN THREAT TO JAPAN f ; PISTOL POINTED AT HEART s (Reed. 6.30 p.m.) London, March 14. While the military position looks I serious and difficult the best tonic is to ■ consider the enemy’s difficulties. The Japanese are operating on an enorm- ■ ous front a considerable distance from - home and must always consider the danger of Manchukuo. where the Russian position is like a pistol pointed at Japan's heart. Around her are mighty nations, and mightier i. Russia comes in, whom she has to fact, or may have to face. She must, ■5 despite her successes, feel doomed i we are steadfast and hold together. L General Wavell asked for the sus- - pension ot judgment on the failure to - hold Singapore and Malaya until the i full story is available. He said the L authorit es were doing their utmost to remedy t.'-e causes. ) Genera l Wave!! announced that the z Government of India had given in- - strv.utlons that defence works, particularly the construction of aeroT dromes, be carried out on a 24-hour basis.