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Part 3
DEFENCE OF NORTH-EAST FRONTIER OF INDIA.
8. Meanwhile, as described in my despatch dated the 14th July, 1942, the troops in Burma, under General Sir Harold Alexander, were being driven northwards; and after the Japanese break-through to Lashio in the latter part of April and the consequent collapse of Chinese resistance in N.E. Burma, I had to order the withdrawal of the Burma Army across the Indian frontier into Assam. This was completed by the 20th May. The situation of Eastern Army (Lt.-General Sir Charles Broad) which was responsible for the defence of N.E. India was by this time as follows: —
IV Corps (iLt.-General N. M. S. Irwin) was responsible for the defence of Assam. The Burma Army (17 Indian Division and 1 Burma Division) passed under his command on arrival in India; apart from them he had only one brigade (1st Indian Infantry Brigade), which had been moved from the N.W. Frontier into Manipur State and was astride the Palel-Tamu road; and one battalion of the 49th Indian Infantry Brigade.
XV Corps (Lt.-General Sir Noel Beresford-Peirse) was responsible for the defence of Bengal against seaborne invasion or an advance up the Arakan Coast. It comprised 14 and 26 Indian Divisions, both incomplete, and certain troops which formed the garrison of Calcutta.
70 British Division (less one brigade' group in Ceylon) was at Ranchi with the role of meeting any seaborne expedition which landed on the Orissa coast; it also constituted the only reserve available for Assam or Bengal.
Thus IV Corps had some 500 miles of frontier to guard with little except the tired and disorganised Burma. Army; while the XV Corps with two incomplete and partially trained divisions had to secure some 400 to 500 miles of land frontier and sea-coast. The 70 Division (two brigades only) was responsible for another 200 to 300 miles of the coast-line besides acting as general reserve. There was, until the arrival of the 5th British Division at Bombay, which was not completed till the 20th May, no other reserve available in India.
9. Certain auxiliary forces were formed to assist in the defence of N.E. India. On the frontiers of Assam and Bengal local levies were raised amongst the hillmen of the Lushai, Chin and Naga hills; this force, which amounted to some 2,500 men, was known as " V " Force. It was of doubtful fighting value but would have been of value to watch hill tracks, collect information and to' harry the enemy's line of communications had he advanced into the hills. A force was also organised to man river boats to patrol the great waterways that intersect Eastern Bengal. It was known as the Sundarbans Flotilla.
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