BBC-UK War graves mystery investiga

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Subject: BBC-UK War graves mystery investigated

Friday, March 5, 1999 Published at 16:35 GMT

UK War graves mystery investigated

The UK Commonwealth War Graves Commission has promised to look into what is
believed to be a long-forgotten WWII cemetery discovered in north east
India.
Mystery surrounds the identity of hundreds of soldiers buried there and how
they died, although archeologists believe they are allied troops.

The graves were found earlier this week, hidden in thick forests along an
historic wartime highway in Arunachal Pradesh, the state bordering China and
Burma.

The Stilwell Road was named after Major General Joseph "Vinegar Joe"
Stilwell, who headed US forces in China, Burma and India during the war.

The road is now inaccessible, but was a vital communications link to South
Asia for the Allies when Japanese troops closed in on Burma through China.

Commission spokesman Peter Francis said: "We are interested in this news and
are looking to get some more information.

"If these are found to be lost war graves we will add them to our
commitment, to be maintained in perpetuity by the commission."

The commission is responsible for marking and maintaining graves and
memorials to the 1.7 million members of Commonwealth forces who died during
WWII.

There is no record of a battle near the site, and archaeologists believe
malaria or other disease may account for the deaths of soldiers building the
road.

The experts believe British, Chinese, American and Indian soldiers were
buried in the cemetery.

Hundreds of graves were arranged in rows between brick walls and covered
with concrete slabs.

Arunachal Pradesh minister Takam Sanjoy said the state's archeology
department was already investigating.

Archeologists said one of the slabs bore a inscription suggesting the grave
was that of a Chinese company commander who died in 1943.

Similar cemeteries in the area have become war memorials that attract
hundreds of visitors every year.