The Tacoma times. [volume] (Tacoma, Wash.) 1903-1949, 1942-03-12
. New York
Listening Post
Non,ea ~
Aleter ~. lfAAs
Buddhists
OF Burma
In Revolt

PIES ana JOINS pfo>lfale Menhh,
Hong Kong and Singapore. II
the A. p. c. y. powers hold any
portion If Burma. they should
thank Adoniram Judson. first
American missionary to the
delta in 1912.
He translated the Bible into
the local tongue and his fol-
lowers won over the kerens.
Chins. and kachins of the north.
These two million people alone
remain loyal TO Britain.
Elsewhere the Buddhist are
In revolt, butchering isolated
white planters and wholeheart-
edly assisting the advancing
japanese.
The Burmese loathe the
Chinese and have always baked
at permitting u. S. supplies
going over the famous road.
They fear that after the Sino-
Japanese war. Chisng's men will
invade the provinces as war
riors from across the mountains
did once before in the 18th
century.
They resent the English be-
eause arrogant traders and
colonial officials have treated
many of them As coolies, no
matter what their social rank.
But whenever any of U Saws
aristocracy visited Tokyo, the
shrewd Nipponese made much
Of the tourists.
The United Nations lose the
best sirfield in the Far East
with the collapse of Rangoon.
During monsoon weather be-
tween June and October more
than 100 inches of rain fall,
but now the river basin silt is
baked smooth and every field
and road il natural hard
surfaced thoroughfare on which
Tojo's mechanical troops are
speeding. The doomed city at
the mouth of the Irrawaddy--
like Singapore-has huge built
In defense guns aimed toward
the sea. But here too the Japs
charged from the opposite d.
rection.
The government breaches
Remember Pearl Harbor," but
in practice tries TO make the
public forget the cause of that
modification. Latest evidence
II postponement of the Kimmel-
Short court martial, probably
until peace, when the lessons
will concern none but historians.
An unmuzzled trial would
have pudged far more than the
mistakes of two scapeeoats.
Such is the reaction of New
York leaders, who regret that
the American people will con-
tinue To be kept in the dark
about the shortcomings OF
system which produced the
Hawaiian shame and still directs
our war effort.
Absence of teamwork be-
tween contractor, naval dis
trict, and the capital is obvious
In the Normandie tragedy. Lack
Of cooperation in the army and
navy administration at Wash
ineton has gummed things again
in the explanation Of the air raid
over California. Are the serv-
Ices out west also not on speak
ing termse Once the slogan
Wa business IA usual; must
u he changed to "blunders IS
usual:
These earnest Manhsttanites
visualize a tidal wave towering
over our unwsry nation; 4
racial conflict smothering a
eomplacent white supremacy; a
series of disasters hanging a
gold star in nearly every WIN
dow unless America swakes.
And all the while the truth
about our sins, our commit
ments and our future sacrifices
10 withheld from grown-up men
and women who will never be
aroused until their realize their
peril
The season's first thsws on
the southern front have failed
to stop Timoshenko's irrepres-
sbIs Russians. but warmer
weather forecasts the spring.
the scheduled time for Hitlers
about drive to decide the fate
Of Europe.
Word reaches New York from
neutral contacts that the tables
have been turned and now the
Nazis are suffering from the
tttsrs- They cannot imagine
what Americans are mp TO-
since Moscow. London and
Washington are openly demand
Ing . powerful offensive
The Germans reason that THIS
terrific blow would be aimed
at them because they are
nearer Australia or India
Allied shipping could operate
more effectively. especially II
protected by the combined Z. 5.
Atlantic and British Grand
fleets
The hit-snd-rin tactics y; tns
Commands in Norway, the re-
cent raid hy the Scotch para
ehutists on occupied France and
the presence If an snignstie
A. z. p. IN Belfast keep cns
wilhelmstrssse guessing for the
first tine II this war.
Berlin reckons that the Soviet
may have only between two and
three million fully equipped