Evening star., 1944-06-25
Indian Border Victory

from Assam to long-besieged I'M
phal, capital of Manipur State, is
welcome news. 1t undoubtedly
spells the rapid liquidation of the
japanese drive across the Burmese
border, which might have had Sc
rious consequences.
1t is almost exactly three months
ago that the japanese began their
daring incursion. On March %
several Japanese columns simulta-
neously crossed the Indo- Burmese
frontier. The main attack was
launched against Imphal, but an
other blow was directed at Kohima,
key point on the high road which
leads from Imphal north and west
to the railroad which runs up the
Assam Valley parallel with the Bur-
mese border.
This japanese drive came in un-
expected strength. 1t had not been
considered practicable to move a
large army across the wild, Jungle
clad hill country that separates
Burma from India. But the Japa-
nese had secretly improved old trails
and hacked out new ones, so they
were able to launch some $4,000
troops with light tanks and mobile
artillery in an offensive of major
proportions.
Apparently caught unprepared,
the British were at first unable to
stem the tide of invasion. Imphal
was quickly isolated and Kohima
was temporarily lost, though the
invaders were Tended off from the
nearby Assam railway. The cutting
of that line was the japanese pri-
mary objective, since up it went the
supplies and reinforcements for the
Allied army under General Stilwell
operating in Northern Burma, far
to the northward, and striving to
reopen land connection with China.
Besides this military objective, the
japanese had political aim. Ac-
companying the Japanese forces
was a sizable contingent of rene
gade Indians fighting under the
banner of the national" govern
ment, headed by Subhas Chandra
Bose. If this Quisling regime could
be set up in conquered Manipur
State, the propagandist effect on
disaffected circles throughout India
might be considerable and Indian
unrest gravely accentuated.
The decisive point was Imphal.
Fortunately, this city is situated
in a considerable plain, and the
British garrison had enough tanks
and other mechanical equipment to
keep the Japanese in the surround
ing jungle. Also the Imphaf plain
had several good airf1elds, whereby
large reinforcements and additional
equipment were soon flown in. The
japanese were never able to match
this speedy method of supply. Con-
sequently Imphal, though beleag-
uered by land, was always kept open
by air.
After the first impetus of the Jap
anese invasion had been spent, the
struggle became a race against time.
The deadline was the advent of the
monsoon season, in late May or early
June, which would bog down or
wash out japanese communications
from Burma, while leaving the Brit
ish supply lines by rail and all
weather high roads relatively un-
impaired. That time race has now
been won, and the reopening of the
Kohima- -Manipur highway against
lessened japanese opposition shows
the weakening grip of an enemy un-
doubtedly short of supplies and
suffering from execrable living con-
ditions in rain-soaked jungles. The
chances are that before the end Of
the monsoon season next autumn
the japanese invaders of India will
have been pretty we'll liquidated.
The dual threat to India and to our
campaign in Northern Burma has
been definitely removed.