Evening star., 1943-03-31

Mandalay and-miles further north
the important air base OF Myit-
kyina.
Then, still farther to the west
and running parallel to the India
Burma border is the Chindwin
River. On Its upper reaches Japa-
nese and Indian patrols are en-
gagged In confused activity, not far
from the Indian bases of the Amer
ican Air Force.
All along the India Burma bor-
der, southwark from the vicinity of
the American air bases to Akyab
on the Bay of Bengal. Indian and
Japanese patrols are clashing on a
small scale.
The most aggressive operation is
that of British troops engaged in
the strenuous job of cleaning out
series of small peninsulas separat-
ing them from the Jap air base at
Akyab. and at present fighting off
Jap attacks in one sector. 1t is
along this entire frontier that Brit
ish, American and Chinese troops
are being trained under American
direction for the nibbling steps
which are expected to culminate in
big scale drive next fall when dry
weather returns.
Being Trained to Kill.
The traditional practice in this
theater of letting everything rest
quietly during the driving monsoon
rains has been disturbed by several
factors.
In the first place. the Japanese
haven't allowed tradition to stand
in the way of fighting in the rain.
Equally important-and more stim-
ulating-is the fact that Australians
and Americans demonstrated In
Guadalcanal and New Guinea that
they can win victories in wet as
well as in dry weather.
Such fighting may mean high
casualties and certainly means much
sickness, but Allied commanders
have come to agree with 1t. Gen.
Joseph w. Stilwell, who now COM
mands American forces in the
Orient, that the only way to get
the Japs out of this area is to kill
them. To that end, the training
OF troops is being directed.
Months ago, Field Marshal Sir
Archibald P. Wavell, British COM
mander in India, said the British
soldier was being trained to fight
with less equipment. Now, Indian
and American soldiers in this area
are being trained to get along with
only a fraction of the amount of
food and supplies which was nor
mally considered necessary. The
difference is so great that the exact
amount is military secret.
While Allied training is being in
tensified, the possibility of a Japa-
nese move against India is generally
discounted despite the. recent re-
newal of enemy activity in the
Akyab area.
One factor that will retard the
Japanese from taking the offensive
on a large scale is the activity OF
American and British bombers,
which are hacking at their supply
lines day and night from the port
OF Rangoon on the south along a
thousand miles Of railways, high
ways and rivers.
However, the Japanese are giving
no signs that these bombings will
cause them to relax their hold on
Burma.
They have built a whole network
of airports throughout Burma, in
a position to attack an Allied fleet
far out in the Bay of Bengal il
an attempt is made to land an
amphibious force. 1t is true that
Allied planes, operating from Indian
bases, could supply an air umbrella
for such fleet, but observers here
have taken note that even the pro-
lection Of aircraft was not sufficient
to save the japanese convoy from
destruction in the Bismarck Sea.
Don't fire till you see the whites
Of their eyes. But you may buy War
hOndS INV