World Battlefronts: BATTLE OF ASIA: On the Plains of Delhi

In India’s capital this week there was a beginning of military unity. Over New Delhi, long a cauldron of inter-and intra-Allied intrigue for military power and prestige, floated the flag of Admiral the Lord Louis Mountbatten. The banner, a phoenix, centered on the Union Jack where the crosses of Saints George, Andrew and Patrick intersect, signified official constitution of the Allied Command in Southeast Asia. It implied more: that hereafter, in the “Battle of Delhi,” the Jap was to be the only enemy.

Lord Louis’ command embraces a conglomerate collection of British, Indian, Burmese, Chinese and American soldiers, the Royal Navy and the Royal Indian Navy, the R.A.F., the I.A.F., the U.S. Tenth Air Force and presumably the U.S. Fourteenth Air Force. His first job was to coordinate their functions, curb jealousies, instill discipline, create unity.

The handsome, confident Admiral began his task last month when he flew to Chungking. He consulted with Generalissimo Chiang Kaishek, bluntly asked for his advice on continental strategy, had an initial success such as no other British military leader had attained in China. Dour “Uncle Joe” Stilwell was also impressed. Stilwell will probably become deputy commander.

When Lord Louis returned to crowded New Delhi, he established his headquarters in the palace formerly occupied by a Sikh maharaja. To insure greater harmony and constant exchange of ideas, Lord Louis insisted on having the highest ranking U.S. and British officers live and dine with him.

Soon another precedent was shattered. Batches of “pukka sahib” generals, brigadiers and colonels, wise in the ways of frontier outposts and native rebellions, but notoriously untutored in modern jungle warfare, were ordered home to Britain. Replacing them were the bright young men of Admiral Mountbatten’s old command, Combined Operations.