The Republican. [volume] (Oakland, Md.) 1877-current, 1944-02-10
ROADS TO TOKYO
BY CHALES NJ. UPHAM,
Engineer Director American Road
Builders Association

The vital importance OF roads to the
winning of the war is emphasized in
dispatches from all the fighting
fronts. News of every landing and cap
ture of new territory is Immediately
followed by reports of the building Of
new roads. In Sicily, in North Africa
and throughout the war zone the Army
Engineers are constantly engaged in
making the pathways over which our
troops, their weapons and their sup
plies can roll forward.
Word of striking example of the
need for roads as weapons comes to us
from Allied Headquarters in Burma
For almost two years U. S. Army En-
gineers have been building a supply
route from India into Burma as a
Fart Of the plan to attack the Japs
from the west. Guarded from Japan
csc snipers by Chinese troops, the
Engineers, using Indian and Chinese
labor, have hacked the road through
Nll1ICulI Jungle, tIiOhtu terrain Ill inc
foothills of the HimaIayas. Known as
the Lcdo Road, the route may soon re-
sound with the noise Of Allied fight
ing equipment moving into northern
Burma. Once the Japs are dislodged, a
connection will be made with the fam
Gus Burma Road, so that China can
be supplied by land as well as by air
In general. the American road runs
easterly along the southern slopes Of
the mountains in India until it reaches
the Burma boundary, where it turns
southeast toward the upper Chindwia
River area. In some places the Army
Engineers have blasted the road out
Of hillsides. In others they have cut
and hacked a highway through the
lush green jungle bridging rivers,
streams and chasms. The road and the
international force now serving in the
Maya Hills have potentialitics for
making a major contribution to the
attack against the Japanese in North
Burma. The new road is also expected
to serve China as permanent ground
supply route.
It's construction is a remarkable
demonstration Of cooperation among
different peoples against the Japan
csc enemy. Most Of the engineering
troops building the road, under the
direction of Colonel John Arrowsmith,
arc American whites and Negroes,
though some are Chinese and Ncpal-
csc Kachin tribesmen, Maya head
hunters and Indians used as laborcrs.
in the picture also is a scouting force
Of kachin tribesmen, led by an Eng
lishmen and including American junior
officers and American enlisted men.
Screening the project are American
trained Chinese forces who, at last
reports, had advanced into the Chind-
via Valley in northern Burma 100
miles beyond the Assam border.
SO far the Maya hills operations
have been mostly road construction
job and supply problem, Dropping
Of supplies by air has made the Chin
csc advance possible. Young American
plane crews have carried this on de-
spite monsoon rains, mountain miSts
and the hazards of enemy air inter
ference. Their job has been among the
most difficult in the area. Bundles
must be unloadcd squarcly OF ground
targets or they are lost in the Jungle
or 90 over cliffs. The planes often
have to cruise around in narrow val
lcys surrounded by heavy mists to
spot ground markers. There have been
Allied losses in fighting, but in rec
Cnt survey the American commander
of the area, Lieut.. General Joseph
Stilwel] expressed satisfaction with
the progress made.
1t is clear from this report that the
Strategists of this war arc well aware
that no effort must be spared to pro-
vide the necessary war highways. The
numerous construction difficulties and
hazards faced hy builders and suppl
crs in Burma and typical Of other
place, must he met and overcome in
order that these new roads may play
their part IN the march toward Vic
tory.