1950-11-08 — Page 7

GEN, ALEXANDER

Netroops inch Rangoon troops in our control

man.

in time to save it. But if we could not send an army we could at any rate send a It was resolved to send Gen. Alexander by air to the doomed capital. To save time he was to fly direct over large stretches of enemy territory.

THE CHINA MAIL, WEDNESDAY, NOVEMBER 8, 1950.

ALEXANDER SHOWS HIS

MILITARY

SKILL

IN

THE BURMA WITHDRAWAL

great oil refineries at Rangoons and many other demolitions, and for the whole force to cut its way out northwards along the road to Prome. The Japanem lind intended to attack the city. from the west. In order to pro- tect their encircling division they placed a strong forço astride. the road. The first attempts by

from

Brigade moved by easy stages divisions,* who were now to Prome

Buima. Generalissimo Chiang A long and painful struggle Kai-shek accepted our claim was required to extricate the that. Alexander should have Army

Upper Burma. supremo command over ali Wavell did n 1. underrate the forces actually in Burma, But difficulties.

the President thought it better to preserve the duality between Alexander and Stilwell. I did pres the point nt this Wavell 40 Prime difficult moment.

Fresident Roosevelt

Naval Person,

Command

Minister.

our troops to break out were re- Generat

gather ments.

all avoitable reinforce-

for

Mar. 10, 1942. I do not think we can count on holding Upper Burma for long it Japanese put in A do- termined attack. Many troops still short of equipment and shaken by experiences in Lower Burma, and remaining battalions of Burma Rifics of doubtful value. There is Uittia artillery. Reinforcements in any strength Impossible at /present. Chinese co-operation not easy. They are d'etrust-

sit ful of our fighting ability and inclined to hang back. Not certain that they will compete with Japanese jungle tactics any more successfully than we have. Alexander can, how ever, be relied on to put up good fight and Japanese dimculties must be great.

Hard fighting continued 24 hours, but the Japanese com- mander adhered rigidly to his instructions, and having made sure that the encircling division had reached its positions for the attack from the west he con- ceived that his tosk as a block- fog force was finished. He After he had been made fully therefore opened the road to acquainted with all the facis of Prome and marched on to join the situation by the Chiefs of the main Japanese attack on the Staff and by the War Ofee, and city. At the same time Alexan- a few hours before his depar- der with his whole force pressed ture, he dined at the Annexe forward und escaped from with me and my wife. I re- Rangoon in good order, and member the evening well, for with his transport and artillery.

I taken the re- never have sponsibility for sending

The Japanese 0

did not prENS general on a more forlorn hope. our northward retreat, as they

The difficulties about the com- Alexander was, as usual, calm needed to reorganise after the

fighting and

many mand as between Alexander, and good-humoured. He said casualties they had he was delighted to go. In the and the long marches they had can General

sustained Chiang Kai-shek and the Ameri- Sillwell were a Fuit Great War in years of

The Burma fighting as a regimental officer fought a steady delaying action had arrived from China to take Division complication. General Stilwell with the Guards Division hc was reputed to bear a charmed back to Toungoo, while the 17th command of the Fifth and Sixth Armoured Chinese Armies, comprising six

He, and under my heavy fire

men were glad to follow exactly

in his footsteps. Confidence spread around him, whether as a lieutenant or in supreme com- mand,

He was the last British com- mander at Dunkirk. Nothing ever disturbed or rattled him. and duty was n full antiafiction in itself, especially if it seemed perilous and hard. But all this was combined with so gay and and pleasure easy a manner that the

and honour of his friendship were prized by all those who enjoyed it, among

I whom

For this

could count myself.

reason I must admit that at our dinner I found it difcult

io emulate his composure.

Chinese forces

On March 5 General Alexander took command, with instructions to hold Rangoon il possible, and failing that to withdraw northwards to defend Upper Burma, while keeping -contact with the Chinese forces on his left. It was soon clear to him that Rangoon

was doomed

to fall. The Japanese were at- tacking heavily at Pegu; and moving round the northern flank to cut the road from Rangoon to Prome, thus barring the lost land oxit from the city. Wavell, now Commander-in- Chief in India, had the supreme direction of the Burma cam- paign.

General Wavell to C. I. G. S. and Prime Minister. Mar. 7, 1942 Communication with Burma has been subject to long delays in last two days; wireless seems to have broken down alto. gether and I am without any message from Alexander, gather

I

from naval message received this morning that decision was suddenly taken about midnight last night to abandon Rangoon, turn back convoys en route, and carry out demolitions, Wired Alexander at once to inquire aliuntion, but have had no reply. Will inform you a soon as I have official news.

Alexander had in fact given orders for the destruction of the

kevere

made.

Division

the and

סון

Reference concerning Burman

to Former

Mar. 20. 1942, your mcastge command

ska

Jave recently

requested the Generalis-

sime to continue reinforcing the Burma front and to permit Stilwell to make co- operativo arrangements rela- tivo command according the principles laid down in his original directive approved by the Combined Chiefs of Staff, Recent messa gos from Stil- well indicato that he and Alexander can continuo to work affectively together, but that urgent need is for addi- tional Chinese troops The Generalissimo has placed Sutwell in command of the Frith Dad Sixth Chinese Armies, but unfortunately will not permit completion of their transfer to Burma pending clarification of the command

A Chinese division was about

one-third the strength of British or Indian division.

A

3 A Mi

I

D I

A

Imphal

C

Calcutta

Įri media levý

SOUTH SHAN STATES

Ma

Thingst- winggi

BAY

口罩

BENGALI

Prome

HIN A

Kunining

FRENCH INDO-CHINA

$ 1 A M

Tavoy

Andaman

Bangkok

Nicobar

Scate of Miles

GUER

DR

SIAM

a

situation. Stilwell has not only urgently requested the Generalissimo to recede from this position, but has actually ordered additional units southward in the hope that the Generalisalmo will ap

prove.

Despite command compilentions Silwell provides a means of assuring complete co-opern- tion, whereas a Chinese com- mander might

make

By an administrative feat of General Alexander's army and the civil Government of Burma,

which the Governor and his wife played their part, and alded by helping hands stretched out from India, notably by the planters of Northern Assam, this mass of humanity was brought to safety, and on May 17, only two

the days after rains were expected, Alexander

was nblo to report that his through

the THIS IS CHAPTER 7 force had won

situation im- posible

General Alex-

Ender. Sulwell

no

not only immensely and

capable

resourceful in-

OF "THE HINGE OF

FATE," WINSTON

CHURCHILL'S FOURTH

dividual bul in 80OK OF SECOND

thoroughly ac- quainted with the Chinese people, speaks

WORLD WAR MEMOIRS

their language fluently and

is distinctly not a self-seeker. His latest telegrum states:

"Have ar- ranged with General Alexan- der for co-operation,

and of matfer

command

beed not affect conduct of opera- tions. Have asked Genetic- simo to start another thres divisions towards Burma," Under the circumstances I aug-

gest we should leave the com- mand status at that for the present, I feel that Generals Alexander and Stifwell will co-operate admirablý, Strange that these two who were originally intended to meet at "Super-Gymnas [d... in

French North Africa] should in fact meet at Maymyo.

Grim race

There

The loss of Rangoon meant the loss of Burma, and the rest of the campaign was a grim race between the Japanese and the approaching rains, was no hope of reinforcements for Alexander, because we had no port at which to land them. Our small air force, which hind covered the evacuation and held at bay the much more numerous caemy planes, had to move from its well-established Buse at Rangoon to landing-grounda where there was no warning ystem, and before the end of March it was virtually des- troyed, mostly on the ground.

Aircraft based

India on managed to drop stores QIKL medical supplies and to evacuato 8,000 perpons, including 2,000 wounded, but for the rest of our troops and the mass of civilians there was no way out but 600-mile march up the whole length of the country.

On March 24 the enemy resumed their offensive by at tacking the Chinese division at *Toungoo, And

the captured town after a week of sharp fighting. Four days later they advanced on both banks of the Irrawaddy against Prome. At the end of April the epery stood before Mandalay, and the hope of keeping touch with the Chmese forces and holding_tho Burma Road was gone. Part of the Chinese forces withdrew Into China: the rest followed General Stilwell

up the Ir- rawaddy and struck across the mountain ranges to India.

Jungle paths

Alexandou, with the British. marched north-west to Kalowa, Only thus could they guard the eastern frontier of India, which threatened by a was already Japanese column moving up the Chindwin and disturbed from within by the Hindu Congress, The routes were little than jungle paths. Thousands of refugees encumbered them, many of them wounded and sick and all of them hungry.

more

HOW DO THEY SCREEN

A MAN?

What would happen if YOU

mens-for-a "togasorat tab.

and

was concen- trated at-Im- phal, albeit with the loss of all its trans- port and 1ts

tanks.

surviving

In this his Arst experience' of Indepen- dent command,

though it ended in stark delent, he showed all those qualities of military skill, imperturbability. and wise judgment that brought him later into the first rank of The road Allied war leaders, to India was barred,

Sea power

The grievous anxieties which we felt at having to lose even for a spell the naval command of the Bay of Bengal and the Indian Ocean were removed by the course of

events. We were in fact at the end of the Japan- Cse advance towards the West. Their naval incursion was out-

side the main orbit of Japanese expansionist policy. They making a

They were

a raid and a demonstra- tion. They had no serious plan for an

Invasion overseas

of Southern India or of Ceylon. If, of course, they had found Colombo unprepared and devoid of ald defence they might have converted their reconnaissance in force into a major operation. They might have encountered the British Fleet and inflicted, as was not impossible, a severe defeat upon it. If this had hap- pened no one could get limits to their potential action. Such a trial of strength was avoided by good fortune and prompt de- cision. The stubborn resistance encountered

at Colombo

vinced the Japanese that fur- ther prizes would be dearly bought. The losses they had suffered in aircraft convinced In them that they had come contact with bone. The renas- cent sea-power of the United

States in the Pacific was the dominating factor. Apart from Isolated activities by a few U- boats and disguised raiders, the Japanese Navy never appeared again in Indian water. It vanished as suddenly as it had come, leaving behind a vacuum from which both antagonists | had now withdrawn.

The air fighting in Ceylon had important strategical results which at the time.we could not forçace, Admiral Nagumo's now polebrated carrier force, which had rangod almost unmolested for four months with devastat- ing success, had on this occasion suffered such losses in the air that three of his ships had to be withdrawn to Japan for rent and re-equipment. Thus when a month Inter Japan launched her attack against Port Mores- by, in New Guinea, only two f these carriers were able to take part. Their appearance at full strength then in the Coral Sea might well have turned the scale against the Americans in that important encounter,

Madagascar

៥

Although Madagascar ceparatod from Ceylon by the breadth of the Indian Ocean, the possibility of a Japanese descent or a Vichy betrayal haunting fear. We had so

was a much on our hands and such

strained resources

rees that it was hard to take a decision.

General de Gaulle had urged

& Free French operation against

ber

the

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THE HONG KONG JOCKEY CLUB

NOTICE TO MEMBERS ELEVENTH RACE MEETING

Monday 13th and Saturday 18th November, 1950 The first bell will be rung at 11.30 am, and the first race wit be run at 12.00 Noon on the 1st day. On the 2nd Day the firer

on the 1st Day.

bell will be rung at 1.30 Um, and the first race will be run at 2.00 pm. The Tifin Interval is after the fourth race (1.30 pm) ..... There are 10 races on the 1st Day and 8 races on the 2nd Day (18 in 11),

Through tickets at $36.00 each may be obtained at the Compradore Office of the Treasurers, 1st floor, Telephone House, also tickets for the Cash Sweep on the last race of the Meeting as well as the Special Cash Sweep on the "Pearce Memorial Cup" scheduled to be run on 28th February, 1951.

To avoid congestion at the Club's Offices at Telephone Hous non-members are requested

purchase their swoop tickets at the Club's Branch offices at:-

to

5, D'Agullar Street, Hong Kong OT

382, Nathan Road,

Kowloon.

MEMBERS' BADGES AND ENCLOSURE

MUST wear their badges prominently displayed throughout the Members and guests are reminded that they and their ladies Meeting,

NO ONE WITHOUT A BADGE WILL BE ADMITTED TO THE MEMBERS' ENCLOSURE.

Badges admitung ladies not in possession of Brooches or Madagascar as early as Decem- Season tickets and gentlemen, non-members of the Club, to the entry of Members Enclosure and Club Rooms at $10.00. per day including r 10, 1941, after Japan

Into the war. He wrote tax, for ladies or gentlemen are obtainable through, the Secretary nguin to mo oni February 10, on the written or personal introduction of a member, such member 1042, pressing for a decision, te be responsible for all visitors introduced by hire, and for pay- and also

submitted a plan to our Chiefs of Staff for a Freement of all obita etc. French expedition in co-opora at the RACE COURSE,

Badges admitting to Members Enclosure wit NOT be on sale tion with British air and naval

The Branch Offices and the Treasurers Compradore Office will close at 10 am. on the 1st Day and at 11 d.m. on the 2nd

at 11.45... on the 3rd Day. The Treasurer. Compradore Uttico In the end the throat which and the Secretary's Onion are situated at 1st floor, Telephone was developing in the Bay of

House.

limited number of tins will to obtainable at the Club resolved us to secure the con- House provident they are dedered in advance from the No. 1 Boy trol of the invaluable harbour.

Decision taken Day The Secretary's Omen will close at 10a.m. the let Day and

unit, cases which might cast doubt outbuspected proplo-1 Bengal, and the peril to Cayton

KIETY,

of

and had provided satisfactory tapped by the special security be asked to sign a statement references.

police attached to the Post that you were fully

aware of Only If you were provision- Omee. Your letters might be the penalties you might incur ally selected for the job on opened.

under the Official Secrets Act. technical grounds would serious You would not be aware that From then on you would be "screening." which literally you were being screened so

50 under constant supervision by means "passing through a thoroughly.

the security men. sleve," begin.

2 CHECK all newspaper cut-

support All your laboratory phone documents Your

including Mines to discover whether calls would be Hablo to ba your birth

would be you had been involved in Am- certificato, pared to Supply Ministry head-portant political events or court dipped and recorded. Any od- behaviour political quarters' own security

drunkenness, fami- These documents would form on your trustworthiness.

Hlarity the nucleus of a dossier to be 3 FINALLY the major would would be lined in your built up continually during the pay a visit to M.L.U's London

1! you

your wife's rest of your life, whether you headquarters. In the basement background

bo checked stayed in Government employ there, dossiers on every person by M.L5. Her record would be or not.

known to be of interest to added to

to yours. British security

In Three

Bro

kept

Any signs that you are

Living by CHAPMAN PINCHER

green, steel

for above the income you bean an active from atom research would maka If you having cabinets. PEAKING on one of the scarlot Communiot the fact will be the security men susplelous.

phones

with fitted

anted there. If VOUR first indication aus Fuchs, was convicted in "embler" device, which pre- foreign domestic servant that, on your bank account.

'you employ a Automatically they would cheek. years even-drooping, a tall, too, will be on record. that loyalty is rated March of spying for Russia. the most Important quali. A second security reminder danner major whin Is Runnly

The dossiers

everybody. would fall on your desk as you. Ministry security chlet would with the same name as yourself, fication for atom defence unfolded the offelal application ASK Scotland Yard if you and the same name as your wife research arould be found in form for the job." This allo of had a criminal record. Any would be examined to search: CONSIDERING all those pro any cement saking while power save that people serious crime would not only for relatives who might be rated cautions why doss Harwell's

with Commmmistor Fascist rule you out of the job but as politically undesirable, poje pecurity will slip uplyn for applications to fill Pro- longings need

to would put the M16 branch-of 3ས

All you would be told if volt. One person, of course, is the

applied for Pontecoryo's job

The plan who gets the must be British-born,

points

Why slip?

corn

27018).

NO CHILDREN WILL BE ADMITTED TO THE CLUBD PREMISES DURING THE MEETING...

PUBLIC ENCLOSURE:

Diego Suarez. The rest of the enormous island was of litle strategle importance, but Jet Japancen etablich

with themselves

a submarine Holilla working

The price of námlesion to the Pubile Enclosure "is $5.00 cach Madagascar w

from day including fox for all persons including ladies, and is pay. pcar would have bem a disaster. The stream of rein-

able at the Gate,

BOOKMAKERS, TIC TAC MEN ETC., WILL NOT BE forcements which. was flowing roural the Cauc

of Indaco PERMITTED TO OPERATE WITHIN THE FILECINTS OF THE seemned, ba mhức to do this

HÔNG KONG JOCKEY CLUB DURING THE RACE MEETINU. Job On thele way

MEALS AND REFRESHMENTS. WILL, BE OBTAINABLE IN without any great loss...of.

of time. With

THE RESTAURANT IN THE PUBLIC, ENCLOSURE memories

́SERVANTS' PASSES AR

of Pakar, in que mlad we coul

not commiento the semiton hyvent prices will be sued to private box holders onty, edalon was taken for a purely to endorse their names:/ on the passes, Holders of such admitting the Free French. The who are requested to disribute them with discrimination and

post interview in

A curt Invitation to attend an freth They would want to eat would be that someone sim wingtuckevadel Chan; broken-hexpedition, panes and not permitted in the arembers. Enclosure set for

the conference know why you were trains to host got the job. Ivom passed, las ecstantly tailors IKERET room on the fourth floor of the got fato a defence etablish, you wout bus matriate Cakes Supply Mindatzer # headquarters, mentazion