BURMA

• Document Type: CREST
• Collection: General CIA Records
• Document Number (FOIA) /ESDN (CREST): CIA-RDP92B01090R000300020021-0
• Release Decision: RIPPUB
• Original Classification: S
• Document Page Count: 31
• Document Creation Date: December 12, 2016
• Document Release Date: April 30, 2002
• Sequence Number: 21
• Publication Date: October 14, 1952
• Content Type: OUTLINE

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1 ortation
1. Railroads
(a) '? t zut-e ca, )aci ' ).iiithUonu of the L hi oa= ~~
- , s~nwe~asrr.~.w
The 176 mile of n3
Bassein
Bass
i oul to
_ The line e on air c fo, " g C"~F.?w?r l nwfr
Lashio traverses vex- d.1
v
stations, and curves up to
is l percent.-
0 :t -Ucn out
11 short tcnsn
(b) What J.s the aondition of all railroads
the Sur i;:a 1w rr in a co:: dr t .. ,;1 d1ar to that existin- at U and of
Over two years., 9h to 1950, of i~zsu tion a disorder . o'
War I t However, Sri; with thecl.
Bwm other n those of th '" ?:r, jai ,wad=s ,
cor t:1ve re 7
track railway frM n, ?;yohn . : ~' " nI
s (radius 337 feet). The .:Pir 3 r~ gralient
ovcrrmen~t al P-r^.~.orit in
1950, operation was o r )oar5 tv,, 30,000 lbs.;
drawn fuel storage; 2 steel-
frame hangars.
4,1500 ft. ; aermanen" runway,
weight-bear. ing, C.1t7; limited
radio
3,100 ft. permanent runway,
Wight-bearing,,, 300,000 lbs.;
taxiwa;;rs; parking aprons;
radio and lighting facilities;
100,000 gala tank storage;
bulk storage at Rangoon;
major yyrepair; 1s permanent
jai s O
Description
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 Approved For Release 20,,/j
Plamo -lass
Mong :;it jk/F
(1'-olk)
&WA-RDP921301090R000300020021-0
A ;onywa. 'k/F
22-131.11
95-06):;
bong 13sat A/F
5
20=-325y
00F (Chinese
99-16E
;dationalist
Air Force)
raun;pmYa iA/tF
5
l6 31 ~
913-56>
.";oulmein A/F
4
16.278
UBA and occa-
)7-40L
sionrzlly, BAIL
4.yitkyina A/1"'
3
25..23,
f3A
South
97-61La
'akokku A/F'
5
214213ti
IJflA
9507E
Paul: A" r
5
21.2711
UI3A
913--231:
Shwebo A/F
5
22-35
ilr3 ~
Tavoy A/F
95?-141a
1 .-oC'o
98-13L
iawsalun t VF
5
21,.=t351a
913-0911;
Thaton A/F
5
16w5G
97.23,,
Toungoo A/P
5
19001:4
UflA and 3AF
96-24K
(l~.;rd.ted use)
1t, 230 ft.. temporary runrxay,
weight-bearing, 30,000 lbs.
3,900 ft. natural-surface
ruiura,y, imihht-bearing, 0-47.
6,000 ft. temporary runway;
eight,-baring, 30,000 lbs.
13,13';0 ft. natural-surface
runway, weight-bearing,
30,000 lbs.
5,100 IM tem )orary r away,
Freight-bearing, C-147; radio;
drum fuel storage.
6, 0$U ft. permanent runway,
re:irnz -bearing, GOB, 0 40 lbs.;
parldng apron; radio; limited
lighting; dr.um fuel storage;
hangar
3, 900 ft. natural surface
runway, weight-bearing,; un-
knoim.
3,900 ft. natural surfac.,.
runway, woight-bearing,
25, 000 lbs
3, 000 ft. temporary ranway,
we iglit-bearing, 30,000 lbs.
3,600 ft- temporary runwayF,
weight-bearirr; C-47; parking
apron; radio; limited lighting,
408W ft. temporary ranuay;
weiglht-bearing, 30;,000 lbo.
3, 9 i0 ft. temporary runway,
weight-bearing, 30,000 lbs.
!~, 8Uo ft. temporary runway;
weight--bearing, 30,000 ibs~
aarking apron,,
3o What are the fuel stn a facilities and what is the extent of
fuel sto
rcrlrrr kpiling at Burma airfields?
~rrrrrr r. ~rrr ^r m rrr-.~rrrr
Burma9e oilfields and refinery produce no aviation fuels. Thus Burma
Is entirely dependent upon foreign sources for avgas. The Burmah Oii.. ",ompany
furnishes the greater portion of petroleum products required by the Air Force,
Standard Vacuum and Shell .01]. Conpany also are suppliers, but the bulk of their
producte go to conmiercial users in Burma. Aviation fuel storage facilities at
-9-
Sr- C---F.-T
em ~ -M r 00
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SSE-C-R-T
airfields are found only in the Rangoon, Myit1yrina, and Iy'sWk u areas. Fuel
storage facilities we so limited that, if bases other than Mingaladon at
Rangoon were used, the capability of the Burma Air Force would be much reduced.
Aviation gas must be airlifted from lirgaladon (100,000 gal. tank storage) to
other airfields and hand--pwaped into the aircraft.
1 . What is the current status of the nurn$rous airstri constructed
IM Americaas, British _,and Jganese during World War XI?
During World War 11, a large number of airfields were constructed by
both the allies and Japanese. Those developed by the Japanese were either
Improvements and extensions of the fow former RAF fields or, more frequently,
hastily constructed rolled earth or laterite strips suitable for light Japanese-
tygpe aircraft. Japanese airfields usually took the form of a number of
strategically located complexes, each consisting of at least one all-weather
strip, surrounded by fairweather satellites.
As the ,Allies took the offensive in Burma, they built a number of
more substantial airfields, frequently on the site of a captured Japanese
strip. From this group emerged most of the airfields currently operational or
considered easily repairable.
The majority of the 'orld far II airfields have since been abandoned.
Some of thou were rendered unserviceable by the Japanese on their withdrawal
and have never been repaired; while others have fallen into a state of die-
repair through lack of maintenance, encroachment of jungle, or by cultivation.
More recently some have been damaged by insurgent activity. Of the more than
300 airfields which existed in Burma during tYorld War II, only 36 are now
listed as operational or repairable. Most of these are totally or partially
lacking in such auxiliary facilities as lighting, aircraft maintenance,
refueling, navigational aids, and comuunication services.
S?E-C.R-E-T
S S .r - ..
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vT
S-S-C-R - M
m.. r - so
C. .:h Loping
1. xoiscribe in data-1.1 th condition of the channels and approaches :arbor
conditions, na1ri./,aticnal aids now being maintained,- vessel aoczzmodations,
terminal insta:;. "ation s, stox'k; cls'~az?~~~ r . z: 1;,'4i.c, and repair facilities
the follow ng r'orts: (id)crab, `,assein. cal~rloi~l `i e, and Victoria.
Point j o
1 StrdUes on these ports have not been undertaken and detailed current
informrtic i has not be;)M ?lvai labie. 1 ost of the a nforiiia tiron on these ports
dates from 1948 or earlier., The ports listed suffered damage during the last
;+or1d T:ar. It is believed the preoccupation of the government with the rebel
groups opaxatirig in the area 7enerally has precluded substantial rehibil{_tatior-.
Akabz The controlling dept? at low water in the channels of approach
and entrancE is. C",zter 'lar 25 feet, Inner Bar 16 feet. A vevsal drawing
29 feet' could normally expect to enter and :Leave the outer harbor, but
could be t?neapedoo on occasion. There is no li d.t to the length or vessel
that could enter the outer harbor; 500 feet is considered the limiting
length for the Inner Aarbnr
Lights, beacons, an. i,uoys mark din ;er areas and channels Storm
and weather signals., in accordance with the Indian Pen-rah. system, are
displayed at Ahyab. ."Cr more detail on navigational aide see "3aailini;
Directions for the bay of Ben ,a'?, " T3ydrographi c Office, Publication
Number 14,0,
{'ilotage is compulsory for merchant vessels and reeonended for
naval vessels. in 19148 tiro pilots were available. The pilots moot
incoming vessels 3 mllec routh of Savage Island l.i7ftthon4^, T) e
Fort cannot be entered In darkness.
-C-R-E-T
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The port area and rain wharf were heavily damaged daring the war. In
1912, a Lorwegiar ship was bo:.bed and sunk at the main wharf. It remained
alonf'side the wharf until aftur the reoccupation. When it was rer:aved, it
was found that tic., %7ters around the jetty had silted until now there is but 6
feet of depth at the main wharf at low water. i'ho Port Officer in 1948 esti-
Ma.ted that it will be necessary to dredge a half million cubic yards of tough
clay silt to again permit use of the rain turf and utt' .int facilities. F'.oW-
ever as of that date a suitable dredge was not available.
In the meantime, cargo is Yandb1 by lighters at the anchorage ,and unloaded
at Vie Jetty of the Arakan Flot lla Co., in C'haru rea ';reek. The Port and Customs
Authorities have set up shop a-lon!Tside the Arakan Flotilla " installation, and
it is expected that they will. continue to function in site for the next two years.
The port has no heavy lift !:,ear. L motor crane or two left by departing
British ..ilitary forces can lift 3 tons; any item of greater weight r be
landed by improvised method,.
Ten flat barge-lighters of 250 tons capacity each servo Vie e needs of the
port for lighterage. One sea-goinc tug and several smaller tugs provide power to
move the lighters. Warehouse capacity is limited at ;resent to 700 cubic tons,
all in Nissen Huts. This is to be expanded as rehabilitation progresses.
A 500 foot tanker berth, from which a pipeline extends to shore, is
situated about 2 miles west of the main wharf.
The only repair stops in 1 ?cr- b are those of the Itralan Flotilla a,:pmr,
These can accomplish minor hall and engine repairs, includi t welding id tho
makinr of castinns of 100 11b, wei ;ht. T}iere are no r ^jdocks. A marine railway
formerly in operation has not been rehabilitated since the war.
Except rice, ;'fi'b cannot be depended upon to furnish any appreciable
r iantity of ordinary supplies. Rice cu n, of course, be had in abundance,, The
water supply of AZryrab corms from a reservoir two miles distant, It should be
boiled of chlorina fed before c r?inld.ngo It can be furnished in quantities up to
100 tons per day., the capacity of the port water boat.
Ordinarily there are no significant.c antities of either coal or fuel oil
available.
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Use of port; -3.s limited by Port Authorities to single screw ships under
150 feet and twin scro; shipri under 14-70 feet owing to sharp ben3 in river.
Draft restrictions are caused by ?anma.rraddy flats below %ells joint irhero
there is an almost stable I1,'6? below '41L''S.
The harbor consist:, rely of that stretch of the river with the
limits of the town
Recommended aichorages are: (3 or 14 ships) ships over 4O4' - below
town 4n :'a.duk Reach off ata
- Shi 300' c 1400 above town off Steels a.dd1e iill ships)
- Ships 25ri - 300 ' -- tldway between Custom douse Jetty and j~oko ii11
(2 or 3 ships)
Ships between 3350 and 450/470 feet can secure to head ant stern buoys with
line-3 a Bore ofi 31lerman ,rakan mice Co., Mill ant T?4alatkar Rice ::i114 It is
the c,rstora of the port to secure head in with starboard anchor down in mid-
strJamA
Landing Craft Tank see-Lire head to sea between two buoys close north of
the ikw uffi.ce0
- A swinging buoy for ',Z?P's exists close north of the Port Office. Outer
anehora.'es are off Cilhousi.'-nt and Stoney loint,
al cargo is Fandlad "ron bav.-es using ships gear. TI cre are no cranes
(includ'tnr C1-)at3 n^ cranes).
Four 1 atin ,ndin7 stagos suitable for tugs or 1ntr.rna1 rater
transport craft are situated at ."yonu road (11'1ain. 1.iST. craft station); at
. osrnle load, at Victoria Ct, and the Custom House Jetty-
The availability of fuel and :rater, and fresh provisions is as follows:
Fuel Oil:
;?.arine Diesel (high spied diesel only) - stock varies from 400
drums down to about 10 drl-ms
Gasoline - same as for diesel
I ng ine and lubricating oils - avail able in :,.all quartities
(Stocks are di.si: _,rsed among various ^?overrrnent authoriticey oil
and gasoline are shipped In an required by the B,ir wjh C11, Co, Argent Is the
Saw Yoko and Co.)
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Quantity t not t., Supplier is the Eritish Air tlinistry.
oal and patent fuel:
1(X) to 150 tons of Indian. coal, in custody of Port Aurthority, s-to
rod
hire on opposite bank to 1 ' ertnan jlrakaan mice ;ill. Coaling' is d-v a by ba$ eta
on barn:e at a rate of 20 tons per day.
titer:
T ater for dri.n.ki??rg and water for tube boilers can be drawn from a
well on the i ort liffice compound (all drinking water should be boiled before
using). eater 'fcr cylindrical boilers can be taken from the river on the last
of the rbb tide. !rater can be supplied vessels at anchor by the 3tr bo,iise at
the rate uf 40 tons per day or in 40 gallon drums.
?resh i'rovis;.ons
Very limited quantities at all seasons. o cold : barage fac i_1i t Les
`here are no gt~_a rshy; or floating docks.
o3 tlmein
The navigable entrance to the Calween iver also known as ,.oal:rein
River Is much encumbered by v:c4ten ,1_ve sand banks and reefs. The river, as far
as ;-.oulmein :i s usually navigable by vessels with drafts from 13 feet :i L high
water neaps, to 23 feet at hi,-12 riater springs.
Lights an,:? buoys mark most of the numerous rocks, reefs and ciao l.r, in
the channel and harbor. f''.ere is a signal station with lntexrsa t i 1nal r~,~,, '?
flags displayed from the flagstaff on .Amherst, a'oint. In 194, one pt1o".,
native, brought in all the ship.&m For more detail ,,n navig::a tiona1 aids a c- h .
ublicati',n rimber 160.
There are available three large tuni.tion soppy Per each type is available,
24e
armored cars other vehicles! are there now ' in the hands" of . the Government!
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Upper Burma the principal districts
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kieG ort uantit
Rifles Wpm
Pistols iDooo
tics (Bran) 1,500
St (,Rten) 33500
Mortars (2 in.) 242
(3 ina) 65
Arti,Zerye 6 pounder 20
25 pounder 24
Armors Bren carriers 62
Armed @ar. s 35
L Tke 9
-24a-
S E C R E T
V r Y rM !
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B. What trsfcrs: zta.,.m ie ? :ie:t a ref tlbe ;rind q' anti and 3ocaticxo of
stoc le:, v::; h.n Sects Mina "Licht g' t be in Burma?
Infcxmation concerrii.a the lccatLcn of stockpiles in South C ina$ and
the quantities and ,, as of material stud in this arsa, is as a general rule.,
limited to It ?a t7ade reports of doubtful reliability. Furtherrcore, the info ,
t?3.csrt contained in s= h reports is extremely frs uentary4 Even if the reports
were taken at .face va ae;, ter e7 would provide insufficient i.nfcrmat ai upon which
to rxako an estlma ,a either of the quantities of material stared in any given
locr;tii?arx or of t2ic total i.-Men tories of material in the entire South China area
car ax r other area of Ch3;a ?;
The rencral tenor of the reports, however, indicates that r ili-ter r supplies
are stored in ?vmrehouses and storage facilities in virtually all of the principal
too and cities 4cng the south China rail net ((ri mgaha,, I ngynn, v Kukcmg,a Canton.,
lweillz$ .riuchrrt, Naixning, etc;,) as well as in numerous river tounr such as 'tuchou
and lhxiyan A nmaber of reports indicate that ml J ty supplies arc stored in
the t='ixanpoa rea9, the Nanshan Islands,, and Haina-a Island, Most of the rep its
.concerning ainan are probably greatly exaggerated. In the Chi in Indoohtha border
area, stockpiles and/or wrar?ehouses (including casres,$ temples,, and private resi-
dences t rich have been ccerverted into warehouses) have 'boon reported in the
Nfin in , Zwjgchou Fang th n Yamchow, Q.iinghhsi,, . and Kuwdng areas.
I
Apart front general-,zed a titarcents that "m iZi tary supplies" are stored in a
particular area,, the report.,; indicate that a wide variety of rnilitary ;teas are
stockpiled,, including rifles. ;mortars, artillery pieces (including M), arxrn .ticn,
food, clothia..g, medical suppl.:iesa signal equipment., ergineerii equip-font? PQL,
trucks, spare _parts., aq3l cs and "stratcgi.c materials",, Them, is Insufficient:
informtLo upon welch to asuess the, quantity of a given category in any single
location or the total, quantity for the area as a whole.
Imo. i l..i tax 7 Production Canarity
~eI11Y li~ihwassr.
A. tlhat facilities e=ast in Duma fcc the manufacture of r~.ili W lies
in both government-hold and i.nsur ,ent territw4:es? hat are the cap bil.ities of
YiiM ~V~r .~P ^
these facilities? Their current i)rcAuctlm?
Bursa is almost entirely- dependent upon outside sources for supplier. of
arm nen t, , a surd ti on and odor ,ill tart' egir pr3er: to Vie priar!nry source of I n a
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supplies is the TJK, althoaa t: t,, r-sact1c s have been noted with other, ccranirios
including the United States a
Burma has csne gavernr e;at arras factory in TZccngocn uhicb produces a swill
amount of arse niticn, caliber 303 and 9 pan,,, and Italians-tom Sren guns knot as
Tae T2445h Bares of the eciutpnent for this plant was purchased in Italy:, The
plant has Italian techni clans,. Production in this plant has been a closely guarded
secret, but it is believed to be very small and insufficient to meet current re-
quireacts o It has been stated that 1, ,000 T n-t rpe gams wre delivered to the
Burmese Armed Forces and that they were presamed to have been manufactured in the
Arras Plants. The potential capacity is estL-iated at 2$00,EM0 rounds of 303
aacaraum.ticn, 2525090(X! rounds of 9 =a., Morn and a 'rcry few gluts-., The manage-
ment is said to be responsible for the ineffectLvencss and poor showing of the
plant"
Shall ores ammuni t i n for the Karen forces is being produced in T o oo,,,
Paptm tioribai., and PasawnC, British and Japanese techn..cians are reported at
Pasaung were guns reportedly are repaired,
No other muni t3. co plants are known to be in Burma x
No motor vehicle plants are found in Burma. Autcmobile repair shops and
tire repair plants have maintained the trucks and cars but Viose facilities are
badly in wed of equi nt.m Three body building shops are operated in fangocn.
Their production is (neatly limited due to shortages and high prices in iron
plate,,. nuts and bolts, and enamel. pain to The shops also lack s,.ffi.cient capital
to to effective.
B. ItIhat Is t h e present condition o f Btuzna0s oil f Ards a n d refining fac .Lt-
r.r.w.rm
ties and what would be re zxtrod to loce than in offic_i.cnt. oocration? ';"rat would
be the r axU= production of cr ride and refined ,ad d., ^Xter rehabiitaticn?
Since 19M crude prcductiai to a largo extent has boon 'United to certain
areas of the t uk fields t ere the presence of 1T3-. ^se troops has made it reas ..
ably safe to wc+rk0 Present cride oil. output is ostixr.t ~d 2,000 barrels daily,
The YenanMraung and Yenan yat fields have re a:ined inaccessible since ni.d-l948
when political dissidents launched armed rebellion a sst the gever orient,
Latest iafcwmat3.cn available (April 1952) indicates that the l3urmah Qil
Caapany has successfully n.+cnred its Syrian rafinory on the coast near Pangon,
to the Chauk oil fields,, The multi- ent mcwod included a tw -s -tge thkl or-KsacY
crude ail distillation unit of 2, 0O barrels daily c pacit .r t.rt h the required
auxiliary tan age, piping, and plow apthg facilities. This near unit will axing the
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throughput "fi':+ r r ; cspar,?_ty to 4,500 barrels daily, It has been suggested that
there di be no incx e_ zu refining operatics for h l955n
coverable at a gradual declinin ; rate.
VIL Poltical
There is no a nfcu time r ?uixat would be required to place tdie` facilities
in efficient epora' ii.o.m Prior to T?tcsrlrl liar II/output of crude oil, and refined
products ti re mapoeti_vely 21 -MO and 19?000 ba ils, car a jpru i te1 rr 1-0 times
present production levelso S of . Dradehaw, Director of the D=a Ceologi..ca)
is
Department,/indicated that knc+zm reserves are sufficient to produce 103 0OO barrels
daily for at least a 15-year period and still have another 20,,000 O00 barrels re-
A4 To :vhfa.t extent are the f nese Cammalstss linked with or receiv,
haz:. Kaahin, and otbxer minors
Co ^..x"atica bcttiaecn the Ccr unists and Karens appears to be 1srge)y limited
to ad hoe T3LIi tax-1 arrangenontrs i n scattered areas in the Ir ,, do r delta., Thwric-e-3
i
Cow-mnists may maintain contact with dissident Kaeh3.ns under l hair Song., Little or
no 1zXwAraic is available on contacts with other dissident rn.norlties;.
73, How and w -1-1-6h z -iat success do the Chinese Oc ..sts atteript to influence
as 2Sahn Ba rn and 3 ~ac?_ior S Law Saixa? hat is the mLtont of Karen senti,mcnt
divergen.1--2:2267 Kona ea:ten.~;tve is the influence of`prrr-?C ~ist Karon; iie1
~~~r~. _ ww+++Y+wrs+wv
The t .nese C ants is have attez pted to influence ncm .iissident nznnose
grog in and m t of the 7,,over cnt by appealing to the T?Iaaretst inclinationsy
lcmgstanding an -i .- k,resi a sentiments and desire for neutra tr in the Eaat 1, est
stru&C,le cf most "rlXY tese poll {zi.cians,, This policy has net with only a slight
degree of success;, for j le the Burnose Gwernnent holds to its neutra foreign
police it still maintains, l_srritd --d3-'1'LqY7 and eccnie .cI tics with' e Tres
While Pai..mp*ing'{s polit.;ic incluonco an ilia overseas t inese in Burria rr .chhd
its heights c ,.ng 19,49--.50 fo:?.?~owinr, the collapse of the Iiati.onalist. in ~,..ina.
it has. naarkoc lr declined during the past two ysarc;.
C. To t as extont If a , has the Karen insurgent nommont broken up Into
non dissident ours in and out of the goverrm ont of Ana?
fox atth a settle ncnt of the revolt?
The varying courses of action adopted by the farms negotthtl
-2?-
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that the iuarcc1 i"`J~cuo i "'a ` = x1 .ti:e i ivorgent g?oupsm AccardinC, to Uiat little
i oxraat r z :5_ I l It the inf aenco of nro=C a st ii' ~x
loadors i_s c A ~~ ; .re a~ ail. E ren Ln the Delta area at Lou or Tww.~^f..a4 I,
d re c . c' : any cp3.i t:. QY iw .ron i l ack i.nr