Evening star., 1943-08-26
Lord Mountbatten
Comes Here 10 Man
Drive on Asia
Continued From First Page \

VContlnued From First Page)
thrown the japanese out and the
fina! victory is Won"
After the Navy Department con-
ference, the British Information
Service said, Lord Mountbatten was
slated to visit the War Department.
then go to the Public Health Build
ing, Nineteenth street and Constitu-
ton avenue NV. for conference
with the joint chiefs of staff.
His appointment yesterday, first
concrete result of the conferences
between the Allied leaders, under
scored the emphasis which undoubt-
edly was placed on the Pacific part
Of the global war at Quebec and
served notice of an impending squirt
in Allied efforts to bring aid to
China.
Has Had Wide Experience.
1t brought to the command of the
Southeastern Asian Allied forces a
man trained for amphibious opera
tionS-one who rose from midship-
man to skipper of the aircraft car
rier 1llustrious, one who gained first
hand knowledge of land fighting and
guerrilla tactics in building up the
Commands. He is an honorary lieu
tenant general and an air marshal
as we'll as flyer Since March, 1912,
Lord Mountbatten has been chief
Of combined operations in Great
Britain. He is also cousin of King
George VI.
Thus, in Lord Mountbatten's back
ground, military observers found
basis for speculation that a direct
blow by air and sea may be aimed
| in the near future at the vital port
Of Rangoon. even as the offensive
down the Arakan coast is continued
with stepped-up intensity.
Success in reopening the Burma
road would serve the double objec-
tive of getting more supplies in to
the Chinese forces of Generalissimo
Chang Kai-shek, and as a route for
bringing in fuel for Allied planes
and bombers for a closeup air at
tack on Japan from Chinese bases.
Increased Allied use of Chinese
air bases might we'll compel Japan
to pull in substantial part of her
air forces defending her outlying
island empire, and thereby ease the
tough northward drive confronting
Gen. Douglas Macarthur.
Special Mission Here.
A special mission from Great Brit
aain is already in the Capital. Its
members came to study maximum
British cooperation with the United
States in future operations against
Japan" with the specific mission OF
laying "the logistical foundation
for Britain's contribution in that
objective.
Presumably members Of that mis-
sion will sit in with Lord Mount
batten as he discusses with high
ranking American officers the details
of his new assignment. Just when
the tempo in Southeastern Asia war
fare will be increased is conjectural
but it seems likely that any sharp
setup will be deferred until after
the monsoon season ends in October
The selection of Lord Mountbat-
ten to direct the task of driving
the japanese back from Burma
brought immediate appreciation ir
military circles. Many military
men here long have felt that a
principal requirement for a supreme
commander in Southeast Asia was
a reputation for successful, vigor-
GUS action to retrieve some of the
prestige lost by previous disasters
in that theater
In India, Lord Mountbatten viii.
find himself in command of a truly
1 Allied force - American airmen
British and Indian ground forces
and some Chinese troops. The pre-
ponderance are British. Ahead oil
them in Burma lie japanese force;
estimated at four to five divisions
and limited air strength. How
ever, the enemy can-and normally
does-draw on bases in Indo- China
for air strength needed in Burma
since the planes can be flown over
VIII Select Own Staff.
Lord Mountbatten himself will. OF
course, name his deputies and staff
but it seems likely that Mai. Gen
George E. Stratemeyer, recently
named air officer in the China
Burma India theater after serving
| as chief of air staff in Washington
will be his air commander.
The position of 1t. Gen. Joseph
w. StilWell in the new setup is not
| yet clear. At present he COM
mands all American Army forces
| in China rma-India, but Lord
Mountbattens appointment obvi-
/ ously supersedes him in Burma and
India.
However, Lord Mountbatten s
jurisdiction does not extend to
China, where Generalissimo Chang
exercises supreme authority, with
Gen. Stilwell as his chief of staff
This leaves out of the Mountbatten
command also the United States 14th
Air Force, commanded by Maj. Gen.
Claire L. Chennault-though Gen.
Chennault's forces are part of Gen
Stratemeyer's command
The 10th Air Force in India-com-
manded by Brig Gen. Howard C.
Davidson, who recently succeeded
Maj. Gen. Clayton l., Bissell-will
be part of Lord Mountbatten's forces,
and by coordination of plans, the
l4th Air Force undoubtedly will be
used for support in Northern Burma,
probably in conjunction with Chinese
forces used against that flank of the
enemy under Chinese command.
Because of the complicated
political situation in Asia, the exact
scope of the various commands prob
ably will never be quite clear on
! paper
The British announcement of the
appointment was issued at Ottawa,
but under date of The Citadel,
Quebec City" scene of the Roose-
velt-Churchill conference.
The announcement said, at has
been decided to set up a separate
Southeast Asia command for the
| Il