At the time the Japanese had occupied Indochina and were advancing northward along the Burma Road, planning to sever transport of military supplies into China. For this purpose, they commandeered elephants they found along the way to carry guns, provisions and ammunition.
當時日軍封鎖中南半島海岸線，沿著滇緬公路北上進攻，企圖斷絕戰略物資輸入中國，並將途中虜獲的大象「充軍」，搬運槍砲糧彈。