STRONG THRUST.

Ashburton Guardian, Volume 64, Issue 140, 24 March 1944, Page 3

STRONG THRUST.

JAPANESE TOWARD INDIA. STRENGTH OF ALLIED DEFENCE. LONDON, March 22. The Japanese columns front Burma which have penetrated ipto Manipur State have made contact .with British advanced patrols, says a message from New Delhi. The Japanese are probably aiming to cut the main road near Imphal, which is the supply base for all the Allied forward troops in the Chindwin and Chin Hills sectors, but air weakness may deter them from attempting a deep penetration. Allied dive-bombers already are reported to be hammering the enemy columns. .

The Comander-in-Cliief for India (General Sir Claude Aucliinleck) • told the Council of State In New Delhi that on the frontier of Assam and Burma the Japanese, in a bold move, had sent out raiding columns in considerable strength. They were attempting to carry out tlieir usual policy of forcing the Allied forward troops to withdraw by cutting their supply lines.

“I am satisfied that the quality of our men and the strength at our disposal should enable us to deal with the ■' latest Japanese counter-thrust.’-’ he said. “No real threat can materialise unless the Japanese manage to penetrate to points from which they could attack communications or /airfields. It may take time before tho situation is finally cleared up to tho satisfaction of our commanders.” The Tokio radio claims that Japanese troops and units of the Indian National Army have routed four Allied divisions in the Tiddim area of Burma.

The Prime Minister (General Tojo) told the Diet that the Japanese operations aimed at driving Allied from India to place the country completely in the hands of the Indians.

A British Broadcasting Corporation correspondent says that the area of operations in Burma extends along a COO-mile front. In the south is the Arakan front and above this is a noman’s land extending for 200 miles, over which patrols from both sides are operating. The line then extends northward for about another 200 miles. Then there is a third front in the war north of Burma, where Chinese and American troops have pushed the Japanese out of the Hukawng Valley.