BANGLA DESH guerrillas have sunk four Pakistani supply vessels in the past week, seriously interrupting the flow of soldiers and military supplies from West to East Pakistan. Behind their outward attitude of supreme self-confidence, the Pakistani general staff in Dacca is deeply disturbed by the attacks.
The simultaneous sinking by timed limpet mines of two vessels in Chittagong harbour eight days ago was a brilliantly organised act of sabotage.
And yesterday's loss of an 900-ton coaster and a large barge at the hands of guerrillas near Chandpur, 30 miles south of Dacca, has increased the dilemma of the military government.

Military targets

The guerrillas have also begun attacks for the first time on well-guarded military targets, and 157 major road and rail bridges have been destroyed since they began their fight back against West Pakistan.
Nearly a thousand minor bridges and culverts have also been blown up.
The Army has not been able to repair the most important of the rail bridges, connecting the main port of Chittagong with Dacca.
On Friday an important railway bridge was wrecked between Comilla and Chittagong, and it is becoming increasingly difficult to transport all kinds of foodstuffs and supplies from the ports. Little jute is now getting through, despite optimistic forecasts made two months ago.
The Army, like the people of West Pakistan, know little or nothing of what the guerrillas are doing, so the attacks are unlikely to have any immediate effect on the high morale of the Pakistani forces. This may soon become strained, however, by the constant dangers of hidden road mines, the derailment of troop trains and the unexpected shot from a hidden sniper.

No leave

Also, the soldiers who have been here since before the December elections without local leave or recreation want to go back to their families in West Pakistan.
But the most serious problem posed by recent insurgent activity is maintenance of military supplies. Every soldier, and every round of ammunition for his Chinese-made rifle, must be brought from Karachi around the southern tip of India to Chittagong by sea.
Some foreign ships have decided that they will not visit Chittagong, fearing terrorism, and there is no doubt that this will adversely affect the food as well as the military situation in the eastern wing.

Calculated risk

The insurgents admit that their acts of terrorism bring the threat of starvation nearer to hundreds of thousands of Bengalis, but claim they are taking a calculated risk to "bring the civil war to a speedier end than if the Pakistani Army was free to import supplies of war materials."
Although not a word about sabotage has appeared in local newspapers, many West Pakistan families are moving back to the West.
Despite the heavy guard and roadblocks near the airport they fear that were this vital landing ground attacked by the guerrillas they would have no escape route.