Detroit evening times., 1945-03-30
THE WORLD
IN REVIEW
By Maj. 0e1
D. P. Barrows

MARKED success attends the
Ni British effort TO regain
the country of Burma.
Just year ago the situation
in that country looked darkest.
In March. 1914. the Japanese,
having nearly overrun tho
whole of the country in 1912,
commenced new offensive
that drove westward through
the Naga Hills into the Indian
state of Manipur.
The Japanese objective was
TO invade northeastern India
and cut off the line of supply up
the Brahmaputra Valley 10
Ledo. where were Gen. Still
wells air fields from which
supplies were flown 10 China,
and where the Stilweil Road
TO China begins.
This Japanese attack was a
very grave threat.
For days IL appeared that il
might stfecccd
But the British Indian army
was able 10 concentrate Suf-
ficient force in Manipur To de-
feat the Japanese and drive
them back across the mountain
barrier into Burma.
NOW the British Fourteenth
~ Army under Gen Sim,
has pushed back across this
same mountain cham, and toll
lowing apparently the line Of
advance OF the Japanese a year
ago, moved down the ChindWin
RlAeI---
Last week it recaptured
important central Burmese 60
of Mandalay with It's citadel OF
RI. Dufferin.
The japanese made a bloody
reSis nee hHi- we're over
powered. losing 10000 OF their
alGn.---.-.--a--------aa--
Three weeks earlier arrnor
and infantry Of the -Four Army
Corps OF Gen Slim army made
a surprise thrust sull further 10
the south and captured the
town and air fields az Neiktlla.
- mics below Nandalay.
This successful British army
which. since last December has
marched more than $50 miles
from India. lS now striking m
many directions 10 completely
destroy the japanese Fifteenth
Army which appears 20 be for
gotten and written of by the
Japanese command and is with
out AR support or lines OF
supply.
CEN Sims object D., 10 sd-
VI vance southwark $50 miles
further and recapturc The great
seaport Of Rangoon and COM
plelcly break the japanese hold
on Burma
Al the present season SOUTH
crn Burma is dry US roads are
hard even ITS water supply IS
low
Bat toward the end of May
the monsoon season opens with
IT'S tOrrcntlal dow wnpoUrS Of ram,
and military operations VIII be
Impedcd
Gen Slim thus has about
seven weeks oi further favor
able conditions
The japanese. since their oc-
cIparon of Burma have con-
nected Rangoon by new rail-
road line leading eastward
through tho plateau Of the Shan
states into northern ThallaA
or Sian. where they arc ~
hcted 10 be- strongly based
Thus The next weeks Of war;
fare IN Burma promise 10 be
both furious and fast
The operation may lead how
ever 20 British success that
'Wlll bc comparable 10 Gen Mac
ArrhurS dclIycrarce Of the
Philippines
In many ways these two coun-
tries are comparable In area.
Burma is somewhat larger but
the two peoples. Burmese and
FIlIplnoS. are almost exactly
equal in numbers about Is mil
lions.
StrateClcaly both countries
are OF great Importance.
The Philippines are the kew
10 American strategy in the
Far Fast
Burma is essential 10 the Sc
curlty of India and the rcstora-
ton Of British rule IN Malava.
America has not waited in
the Far East for the overthrow
of Hitler
II the Japanese can be COM
pletclv OveTthrown IN Burma.
and the port of Rangoon re-
gained, the problem of defeat
ing Japan IN China Will he
greatly aided.
KpOwlaICa Tae4