AID FOR CHINA

Wanganui Chronicle, Volume 87, Issue 273, 18 November 1943, Page 5

AID FOR CHINA

OPERATIONAL LINKS REINFORCED BURMA ROAD IMPORTANCE Recd. 8.45 p.m. London, Nov. 17. From now on there is likely to be a marked increase in contacts between Delhi and Chungking, says The Times’ correspondent at General Headquarters in India. One of the first achievements of the new Southeast Asia Command has been the reinforcement of operational links with China, which are now undoubtedly closer than at any time since the outbreak. Lord Louis Mountbatten’s visit to Generalising Chiang Kai-shek made a deep impression not only on Chiang’s entourage but also among the Americans. Almost overnight certain suspicion of Britain’s attitude to the war in the Far East has been more or less dispelled. Lord Louis Mountbatten established excellent relations with the American generals with whom he lives in the same house. The appointment General Stilwell will hold has not yet been announced, but it is common knowledge that he will be very near Lord Louis Mountbatten. General de Wiart, who has been in Delhi for consultations, will go to [Chungking, where it is expected that his personality will appeal to the Chinese. General de Wiart is likely to divide his time between the two headquarters. Probably a Chinese mission will be attached to Lord Louis Mountbatten’s headquarters. Thus there is most encouraging prospects of full co-operation between the two Commands in planning the future offensive.

Ideas regarding the significance of the Burma Hoad are beginning to change. Most political thought maintains that Unis Jink with the outside world must be restored. Also the majority possibly see the Burma Road, despite the comparatively small tonnage it carried, as a channel whereby a stream of arms and consumer goods might flow to China. But there is a small group of thinkers who apparently see the problem in terms of amphibious operations. This school says: “Let us get back to the plains. Give us a port into which ships can come, with a river behind.”

The correspondent adds: “One school of thought seems to look at the war against Japan in terms of equipping vast armies in China and more or less marching to Tokio. A.s other sees it as a series af amphibious operations along the coasts, culminating in great naval actions to crush Japanese sea-power. Probably the answer lies in a combination of the two, but the difficulties of both methods will he enormous until overwhelming strength can be brought into action.”