Then, in February 1942, the Japanese launched their assault on Burma. They had not previously considered the British colony a priority target, but the events of the previous month had inspired them. After Pearl Harbor, in quick succession they had conquered Hong Kong and the Philippines. It suddenly seemed that the mighty British Army was not such a formidable foe, and Burma now looked a more attractive target. It offered the twin temptations of cutting off the Nationalists from supply via the Burma Road, and making the eastern flank of British India vulnerable. On February 9 the Japanese 15th
...more
