PARAPHRASE
               Of Telegram No. 45, January 17, 1942
                    From Rangoon
FOR MID OF THE WAR DEPARTMENT FROM MERRILL
 
     "No.4, 17th.  There are weak defenses on the Tavoy-Mergui
 
Moulmein Peninsula where there are about four BNS. They are
 
distributed as follows: There is one at Dalwan, one at Mergui, 
 
one at Tavoy, and one at Moulmein. Activities on the part of
 
the Japanese provide indications that an advance is probable on
 
the Bangkok-Moulmein axis, and that this advance will be
 
coordinated with another advance to the north on the Toungou-
 
Mawchi-Chienmai axis. However, there is not sufficient
 
information at the present time to permit judgments to be made
 
of either the direction or the time of the principal effort.
 
                    SCHNARE