By the Old Moulmein Pagoda

TIME has been trying to get a clear view of the political situation in Burma. A local correspondent in Rangoon last week rang the bell* with the following summary of the situation:

"Private political armies are now frantically acquiring arms for an emergency. The strength of each in arms already acquired may be seen from the following gradation: PVO, Red Guard, Red Flag, Red Shirt, Galon, Red Peacock. The Dobama Tat (Ba Sein's private army) has just been formed, and has started collecting arms. So has the Police Union (reason mysterious), according to a secret information source.

"Now, as the elections are drawing near, stray clashes have occurred, and the position of each to the other may be seen from the following table:

PVO v. Red Shirt

Red Shirt v. Red Guard

Red Guard v. PVO

"To this triangle Red Flag stands opposed. This is the present situation, but if & when U Saw's army, aided and abetted by Ba Maw's and Ba Sein's, rises to action, then PVO, Red Shirt and Red Guard will turn against them, Red Flag either abstaining or attacking all."

Having settled that, he concludes:

"Besides election news and the unpalatable news of looting, railway holdups, arson and murder being committed by the rebels daily, there is nothing currently of interest."

* The bell in the Kyaikthanlan Pagoda in Moulmein has this English inscription: "This bell is made by Koonalenga, the priest, and weighs 600 viss. No body design to destroy this Bell: Moulmein, March 30th, 1855. He who destroyed to this Bell, they must be in the great Heell, and unable to coming out."

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