SITTANG CROSSED

Ashburton Guardian, Volume 62, Issue 123, 6 March 1942, Page 3

SITTANG CROSSED

0 ENEMY ADVANCES 15 MILES. SERIOUS MENACE TO RANGOON. A AIRFIELD ABANDONED (United Press Association—Copyright.) LONDON, March 5.. The lull in the fighting in Burma was broken last night by serious news of a. Japanese advance across the Sittang River, and of a thrust to Waw, on the Rangoon-Lasbio railway. The Sittang River, across which the British withdrew last week, is the last natural defence before Rangoon. Waw consists of a few wooden buildings and native huts. It lies 65 miles north of Rangoon and 15 miles north of Pegu. A Mandalay communique says “The Japanese have crossed the Sittang River. Our patrols made contact with the enemy at Waw, whore a. scorched earth policy was carried out. “Rangoon remains quiet, with the exception -of some lawlessness, especially against defenceless Indians in the suburbs.”

Reuter’s correspondent on the Burma front reports that the Japanese, witli local air superiority, crossed the Sittang and advanced 15 miles in one bound. “Tho fact that only patrols are making contact with the Japanese at Waw indicates that the main British forces have presumably been withdrawn,” says the correspondent. “The of aerodromes .in the Rangoon area falling into Japanese hands must be faced. It opens the prospect of bombing in many parts of Burma, East India, and shipping in the Bay of Bengal.” The Rangoon correspondent of the “Daily Express” says: “It is officially admitted that Japanese patrols are pushing a considerable distance west of Pegu. This type of activity is unimportant in itself, but. has always been the foreruniier of bigger actions. “Mingaladon airfield, north of Rangoon, is unserviceable for the first time since the outbreak of war in Burma. Escorted enemy bombers arrived without. warning and blasted all the runways. No labour is left in Rangoon to fill in the craters, so the R.A.F. and American fighters have abandoned the aerodrome. The Americans kept up their brilliant record in the last fight over Mingaladon, when they shot down about 25 Japanese planes.” A Rangoon communique says: “Our forces have been in contact with the enemy north-east of Pegu. Our tanks, supporting infantry units, have been in action and have inflicted casualties. “Considerable low-level bombing attacks were successfully carried out on Tuesday against enemy transport, particularly staff cars. Our bombei\s were attacked by a large force of enemy fighters, of which one was shot down, for the loss of one of our ail I ,craft.” Much anxiety is felt about the defence of. Burma and in particualr the position of Rangoon. The British front is liable to be outflanked over the long stretches toward the north, notwithstanding the assistance of such Chinese troops as are available in the Shan States. The danger of such developments is increased by the enemy’s skill in using jungle routes and waterways for advancing, and by the apathy of 1 the Burmese population as a whole toward the outcome of the struggle.