Evening star., 1943-10-18
Delay in Burma Thrust
Held |dlengthening War
Against Japanese
Hy the Associated Press.

Aho hAicu ucldy III opening
long awaited oQensive against
enemy-held Burma increases daily
the prospects that the United Ma
tions may have to fight a one sided
war against Japan for another criti-
cal year.
This possibility is being mentioned
frequently here as October advances
without producing evidence that an
assault on Burma is imminent.
Naval and military men regard
Burma as the key to two-sided
war on Japan-a war fought in
Asia as well as the Pacific. Through
that wild and rugged country pass
the only routes over which it is now
practical to plan for heavy move
ment of munitions to China.
But Burma cannot be restored to
Allied control without major
campaign over an immensely diffi-
cult terrain held by strongly en-
trenched foe.
Attack Was Predicted.
Six or eight months ago almost
any qualified informant would risk
a prophecy that Burma would be
attacked soon after the monsoon
season ended-in October. Now Oc-
tober is half over. Even now it Is
not too early for the long expected
amphibiouS assault on Rangoon,
which should be the main opening
blow of the Burma offensive.
Three developments last summer
heightened the expectation that
major push in Southeast Asia would
be undertaken as soon as weather
permitted. First was the shake-up
in Allied commands in India, begin
ming with the promotion of Field
Marshal Sir Archibald Wavell to
Viceroy of India. This held the
promise OF more aggressive leader
ship.
The second development was the
clearing of the Mediterranean Sea.
which eased the Allied supply bur-
den by shu tening the route from the
United States East Coast ana from
England TO India. With impr )ved
leadership and increased supplies
1t vas felt that the drive on 3 lima
might be started relatively soon.
These events were capped by the
Quebec appointment of Admiral
Lord Louis Mountba tten. Britain's
chief of combined operations, to
lead the offensive in Southeast Asia
The selection was widely acclaimed
AS uShering in new period of
aggressive action by the British, who
have first responsibility in respect
to Burma.
American StrategistS particularly
were cheered by these developments
because it seemed obvious that
American naval, sea and air forces
would reach the point for very
heavy attacks on strategic enemy
bases in the Pacific this fall Such
aircraft carrier raids as those on
Marcus and Wake Islands are Just
rehearsals for the actions planned.
One of these main attacks prob
ably is the conquest of the bomb
battered japanese base of Rabaul.
capstone of the enemy's crumbling
defense system north of the New
Zealand Australian area. What
comes after Rabaul is a question.
but it could be a massive sea and
air stroke at the Philippines.
Japs Well Defended.
Such objectiveS as Rabaul and
the Philippines can be taken. sup
piled and held only by heavy sea
and air fighting in the Central as
we'll as the Southwest Pacific The
japanese have many well-defended
bases in those areas. They would
be less we'll defended if the japanese
could be engaged on the Burma
front about the same time Twin
offensives in Burma and the South
west Pacific would confront the
enemy with an extremely difficult
defense problem and tighten the
tasks of both attackers.
However. Lord Mountbatten has
arrived only recently to take COM
mand in India and it is not con-
sidered likely that he can build up
his staff and train his forces in
the combined operations in time 10
launch a major offensive as soon as
weather alone would allow
One limita ton is the fact that
the fighting time between monsOons
extends only six or seven months.
Unless he can get started in land
and sea, as we'll as air operations
before the end of this year. there
will be little hope that the Burma
route to China can be reopened
tor another - months.
This de'av would place an in
euperable obstacle in the Way of
building up and maintaining air
bases in China for sustained bomb
ing operations against japan and
for that reason possibly would resui;
In adding at least a year % the
time required to defeat Janan