Rans Miguel N.

Lintag
English 10 THU5
5 September 2013
Report Paper
The construction of the Burma Road and its use during the World War II
According to Captain William Peers, Burma was the strategic center of the battle.
[1]
It is
between two countries that were actively participating in World War II, India which was
controlled by Britain, and China. The Burma Road served as a bridge for communication and for
military aid between those two countries. China provided a large number of laborers and soldiers
because of its large population while Britain and America gave out supplies and resources that
China needs. Some of these supplies were kept in Burma for quick access between India and
China. Military reports were also passed from the British campaign to the Chinese government
through this road. The road provided a clear route from India to Burma to China. This prevented
the Japanese armies from forming campaigns in Burma.
[2]

The existence of the Burma Road ensured that China would help the Allies during the
war, because China would only lend its power if the Allies have the upper hand in the war.
According to the Combined Chief of Staff, the Burma Road was an excellent military route
because it allowed the continuous supplication of firearms and resources to China. Maintaining a
large number of American and British soldiers in China was also necessary to prevent the
invasion of Japan in countries siding with the Allies.
[3]

The Burma Road was used as a trade route between Burma and its neighboring countries
after its construction. Burma has a variety of natural resources. The country mainly produces rice
to sustain its economy. Because of the rich soil found in the valleys, Burma had a surplus of rice
that they started to export some to India. Before the war, ten million dollar worth of rice was
exported to India at a yearly basis. Burma also exported tin, tungsten and teak lumber which
covered one-third of the worlds demand even before the war started. Precious metals like zinc,
antimony, nickel, copper, gold, silver and lead were also mined near Lashio and exported. Burma
also managed an oil field. Even if Burmas oil field only contributes one percent to the whole oil
industry, it was still important because of the countrys location. The surplus from petroleum
products were also exported to several countries in Southeast Asia.
[4]

With the newly opened Burma Road, supplies could be transferred immediately between
Burma, India and China as Burma is in between those two countries. Burmas economy
experienced a boom during World War II because it could easily export its resources to other
countries. There were also more soldiers that were on standby in India and so, the demand for
rice greatly increased and a large number of rice was exported. Metals were also necessary in the
making of firearms and explosives. Burma exported more during this time of the war, but the
prosperity that it experienced did not last long because Japanese armies captured the Road in
1942. This was the same year the road opened and so the road was only functional for a few
weeks.
[5]

When the Japanese seized Burma in late-January 1942, they targeted the Burma Road.
They attacked from all directions. They had naval forces active in the Bay of Bengal. They also
had their air force attacking the major cities including Rangoon and Pegu. They seized control of
the Burma Road and destroyed the railroads leading to India, China and Thailand. They even
captured the Salween and Sittang Rivers. They continued to expand the land that they conquered
by going north. By this time, there was no longer any aerial support for the Allied armies. The
British, Indian and Chinese forces were eventually forced to retreat and abandon Burma. Japan
also blocked all other routes leading to the surrounding countries of Burma. The Japanese
soldiers introduced the idea of Asia for the Asiatics to the Burmese people and the latter
mistakenly accepted the Japanese plans and assurances as their stepping stones for their
independence.
[6][7]

After Burma was conquered by Japan, the Allies needed to find a way to bring back their
advantage over Japan. During the Quadrant Conference held at Quebec in August 1943, it was
proposed that a new road should be built to compensate for the loss of the Burma Road. This
road would pass through Ledo and the Hukawng and Mogaung valleys and it will end in
China.
[8][9]
Lieutenant General Stilwell also sent a memorandum to Generalissimo Chiang Kai-
shek suggesting that the Allies should devise a plan to recapture Burma. During the Sextant
Conference, the Allied forces faced a standstill due to the absence of cooperation between the
countries. There were other conferences held by the United States, but due to lack of proper
communication between Allied forces, no immediate action took place.
[10]


Notes
1 Peers, William, and Dean Brelis. "Burma Setting- 1942." Behind the Burma Road: The Story of
America's Most Successful Guerilla Force. Boston: Little, Brown and Company, 1963. p 44.
2 Peers, William, and Dean Brelis. "The Waiting Game." Behind the Burma Road: The Story of
America's Most Successful Guerilla Force. Boston: Little, Brown and Company, 1963. p 38 - 39.
3 Romanus, Charles, and Riley Sunderland. "The Last Preparations." China-Burma-India
Theater: Stilwell's Command Problems (United States Army in World War II). Washington,
D.C.: Office of the Chief of Military History United States Army, 1956. p 9.
4 Peers, William, and Dean Brelis. "Burma Setting- 1942." Behind the Burma Road: The Story of
America's Most Successful Guerilla Force. Boston: Little, Brown and Company, 1963. p 50 - 51.
5 To know more about the effects of the war on the Burmese economy, see Peers, & Brelis, p.51.
6 Peers, William, and Dean Brelis. "Burma Setting- 1942." Behind the Burma Road: The Story of
America's Most Successful Guerilla Force. Boston: Little, Brown and Company, 1963. p 51 - 57.
7 Romanus, Charles, and Riley Sunderland. "Breaking the Stalemate in North Burma." China-
Burma-India Theater: Stilwell's Command Problems (United States Army in World War II).
Washington, D.C.: Office of the Chief of Military History United States Army, 1956. p 121 -
122.
8 Romanus, Charles, and Riley Sunderland. "The Last Preparations. China-Burma-India
Theater: Stilwell's Command Problems (United States Army in World War II). Washington,
D.C.: Office of the Chief of Military History United States Army, 1956. p 11.
9 For an illustration of the path of the Ledo Road, see Romanus, & Sunderland, p. 10 - 11.
10 Romanus, Charles, and Riley Sunderland. "Sextant: The Watershed." China-Burma-India
Theater: Stilwell's Command Problems (United States Army in World War II). Washington,
D.C.: Office of the Chief of Military History United States Army, 1956. p 55 - 57.