Evening star., 1942-01-30
The Stakes in Burmu

The grim struggles going on in the
Philippines, the Dutch Indies, and
around Singapore should not OBJ
scure the campaign in Burma. Here,
too, the Japanese are conducting a
vigorous offensive which, If success
full, would have disastrous and far
reaching consequences for the Allied
cause.
Every one knows Burma's import
ance as the starting point of the
famous road which is China's sole
link with the outer world. Over that
vital highway must pass the artil-
lery, tanks and other heavy equip
ment which China must get from
abroad if she is to be in position to
stage a large-scale drive against the
japanese invaders. That is why con-
siderable bodies of Chinese troops
have entered Burma to bolster the
British defense.
Reinforcements from any quar-
ter are needed, for the steady prog
reSS of the japanese Is reaching q
dangerous stage. Not only have they
overrun the long panhandle of Bur-
mese territory reaching southwark
down the Malay Peninsula; they
have also forced the mountain
passes farther north and appear to
be almost within striking distance OF
Moulmein, the main British advance
base guarding the shore road and
railway leading to Rangoon, only 100
miles away. That great port
city is the seagate to the Burma
Road, and so must be held at all
costs. The chief barrier to the Jap
anese advance is the wide and swift
flowing Salween River which runs
down from the mountains and jun
giles farther north and empties into
the sea at Moulmein. But the Jap
anese are repeatedly approaching
the Salween line at more than one
point. And through the last nifty
miles Of its course, the Salween runs
through fairly open country. So the
British must hold the line in strength
to prevent japanese crossings.
An unfortunate aspect of the sit
uation is the fact that Japan has
got what seems to be the willing CO.
operation of the Thai Army, reported
to number at least 10000. Thailand
and Burma have been hereditary
enemies for centuries, and Tokyo has
doubtless promised the That's a good
slice OF Burmese territory. On the
other hand, these Thai invaders
should stir the Burmese to fight
more strongly and to think less Of
their distaste for British rule.
The British are grayely handi-
capped In reinforcing Burma from
India by the absence Of any railway
or high road along the coast. On the
map, the distance between the two
countries is short, but the mountains
which sunder them from each other
reach into the sea. So the British
have found it easier to communi-
cate by water. This sea borne line
OF communications has already be-
gun to be menaced by Japan. Re-
Gently, two British ships were re-
ported sunk of the Burmese coast
not far from Rangoon, though
whether the sinkings were due to
japanese airplanes or submarines
was not stated. It is easy to see how
precariouS the situation of the Brit
ish forces in Burma would become If
the japanese Navy could have easy
access to those waters, which would
happen If Japan should get control
OF either the Strait of Malacca, now
guarded by Singapore, or the sunda
Passage into the Indian Ocean, be-
tween the Dutch Islands of Sumatra
and Java.
While a japanese conquest Of
Burma would not enable them to
invade India by land, for the rea-
son already stated, it would give
Japan air bases from which to
launch wholesale raids on nearby
Indian cities, especially the crowded
population centers of the Calcutta
region. What that would mean to
those congested and inflammable
human hives is easy to imagine. Yet
the increasingly successful defense
of the skies over Burma by British
and American pilots is perhaps the
most hopeful aspect of an otherwise
critical situation. II the air can be
held, Burma should be able to hold
out until the turn of the tide.
pnrrv'e Sfnfue