FATAL DELAYS

Wanganui Chronicle, Volume 86, Issue 114, 18 May 1942, Page 3

FATAL DELAYS

FAC I OKS SHAPING BURMA CAMPAIGN CHINESE AID NOT SOUGHT . London, May 14. Two factors overwhelmingly shaped the course of the Burma campaign, says the special correspondent of the Associated Press of 1 Gieal Britain, who has been an ; eye-witness of the battle from the i start: First, the long delay in accepting the veter 1.1 {'iußcsi troops and secondly the expul- - on of tlie Allied a.rcraft from 11 hi bases in Bui.ni;, by the coucentiated Japanese bombing of all available landing grounds. “The first factor decided the campaign, and the second turned the reverse into an evacuation, owing to the 1 Allied armies having to light without aerial reconnaissance,’’ the correspondent says. "Burma was more poorly prepared for the war than even Malaya and Java, but even so Burma might have been held to become the United Nations’ greatest bastion against Japan. A lew hundred aeroplanes and a lew thousand more troops would have meant the difference between \ ictory and disaster.” Mr. William Munday, who has been the Sydney Morning lieraid's correspondent throughout the campaign, supports the Associated Press correspondent as to the main factors responsible for the loss of Burma. He dwells on the lack of preparation, which was accentuated by the treachery of the Siamese, who provided the Japanese with an extremely valuable striking base. •They were able almost overnight to shear Burma of its long tail studded with new airports which the R.A.F. never had a chance to use,” he says, “and in addition they virtually immobilised a Chinese army which had to keep guard at the side-door entrance to Upper Burma through the southern Shan States. “Desperately, for long weeks, one division of British, Indian, and Gurkha battalions fought to keep the Japanese bottled in Burma’s tail till the reinforcements could be brought Irom India and the Middle East. But the ships to bring them were few. “On the other hand, the Japanese numbers wore underestimated, and the speed of their advance was unexpected. '.rhe reinforcements did not come in time, which enabled the Japanese to close their ring round Rangoon. “Meanwhile, the Chinese waiting on the Burma frontier were eager 1< hurrv to the defence of the city which was'the gatewa.s to the lifeline ol their war supplies." Mr. Mundax continues. He states the opinion that ar appreciation of the value of the hel[ which the Chinese could have giver would have saved Rangoon am Burma. . , Thereafter, both the British am Chinese, when they entered the battle in central Burma, were lighting on the defensive in country where the terrain gave every advantage l to the attack e rs.