BURMA CAMPAIGN

Ashburton Guardian, Volume 62, Issue 162, 22 April 1942, Page 3

BURMA CAMPAIGN

CONFUSED SITUATION. RECENT FIGHTING REVIEWED ESTIMATE OF ENEMY STRENGTH (N.Z. Press Association—Copyright). (Rec. 9.35 a.m.) LONDON, April 21. Authoritative circles in London stated to-day that the situation in Burma could be described at the moment as confused. There was a “sandwich” of conflicting forces south of Yenangyaung, which is reported to have been recaptured by joint British and Chinese troops converging respectively from the south and north. It is not clear, however, whether the infiltrating Japanese troops were cut off by the British forces or the reverse. Further east the British are apparently still holding Taungdwingyi. But little activity by the Chinese on the railway about Pyinmana has been reported. A very rough estimate of Japanese forces employed in Burma is three to five divisions with an unstated number of tanks. —British Official Wireless.

HEAVY PRESSURE BY ENEMY. STUBBORN RESISTANCE OFFERED (Roc. 10.10 a.m.) LONDON, April 21. A Burma communique states: “Considerable success attended the action in the Yenangyaung area mentioned in yesterday’s communique. In this action our armoured forces and Chinese troops gave excellent support to our main forces in that sector, as a result of which they were able to withdraw across the Pinchaung River. The Chinese forces are now in occupation of Yenangyyaung and no further action there is reported bv them. “Reinforced Japanese forces in the Bawlake and Laikaw area are exerting heavy pressure on our troops, which is being met with stubborn resistance. —British Official Wireless.

RECAPTURE OF YENANGYAUNG. AMERICANS DESTROY PLANES. LONDON, April 21. Fresh news of the fighting in Burma is awaited in London, where to-day the situation in Burma was described as confused. A Calcutta message says that when the Chinese and British forces recaptured Yenangyaung, in the Irrawaddy oil area, the Japanese fell into an encirclement trap which they were preparing for the British. It was known that they had infiltrated round part of the British forces after establishing themselves in some strength at Yenangyaung, but Chinese troops and British armoured units from the north, and British forces from the south, after two days of heavy fighting, attacked and defeated the Japanese forces holding the town. Yenangyaung was evacuated by the British forces last week, after they had destroyed the oil installations. The Chinese swooped down from the hills 30 miles, north-east of Yenangyaung and inflicted 500 casualties on the Japanese, losing 100 men themselves.

British headquarters has not yet reported the result of the action, but it is pointed out in London that a British armoured force was fighting alongside the Chinese and struck southwards down the valley. Other units struck northwards from the south of the town. On Sunday the Chinese engaged the enemy just north of the town w r hile the British forces launched an attack on the enemy’s west flank. It is reported that the Japanese are employing strong forces, supported by heavy artillery, tanks, and aeroplanes, bui the Chinese are offering a stiff resistance. Fighting is also going on" at Alla* myo, 80 miles south of Yenanyaung. The Chinese Central News Agency reports from Chungking that American Volunteer Grocp pilots shot down two Japanese bombers out of a formation attempting to raid an aerodrome near the Yunnan-Burma border on Saturday. A third bomber was destroyed over northern Burma to-day. Japanese aeroplanes also attacked widely scattered points in south-eastern Kiangsi province.