JAP: TROOPS INVADE SOUTHERN CHINA

Auckland Star, Volume LXXIII, Issue 106, 7 May 1942, Page 7

JAP: TROOPS INVADE SOUTHERN CHINA

FURIOUS STRUGGLE

British Forces In Burma

Fight Desperately-

U.P.A. ana British Wireless,

Rec. 1 p.m.

LONDON, May 6.

The Chungking correspondent of the United Press says Japanese forces are invading southern China, despite most furious resistance, and are advancing into Yunnan Province along the Burma Read, apparently aiming at the Paoshan American Volunteer Group aerodrome at Yungchang. Reports are meagre and the situation at Wanting is obscure, but reinforced Japanese mechanised units are reported to have stormed the Chinese defenders in that sector.

The latest Chungking communique says Japanese troops which crossed the Chinese frontier from Burma are continuing to advance north-east into Yunnan province, along the Burma Road. Strong Japanese reinforcements, including mechanised units, were hurled against the Chinese around the Customs post at Wanting from Chukok. Meanwhile, another Japanese, force, which has advanced, north-east, is engaged in fierce fighting by the Chinese.

Evacuation by Air

Officers returning to India from Burma say a rapid Allied •withdrawal is in progress, and as many troops and civilians as possible are being evacuated by air, reports the Associated Press New Delhi correspondent. Seven American air liners took? out 1200 on May 1 alone. The spokesman said a considerable number of British and 1 Chinese troops were likely to be captured. The Chinese Sixth Army was scattered in small pockets for hundreds of miles south, north and east of Lashio.

The British forces west of the Irrawaddy have their backs against the trackless and jungle-clad mountains. They are fighting desperately, but have been subjected to terrific punishment from Japanese planes.

No official news of the position in Burma has been received in London to-day. It is stated, however, that the British forces continue to fight a withdrawing action northwards along the Chindwin valley, and it does not appear that the danger of their being cut off is any greater than it has been in the past two or three days, though the exact positions of the Japanese are not known. In view of the poorness of the communications in northern Burma, it may prove impossible for the retiring British forces to take with them all their heavier equipment.

U.S. Bombers Hit Hard A communique issued by the United States Air Headquarters at New Delhi reports a successful attack by heavy bombers on the Mingaladon aerodrome. A petrol dump, a hangar and 40 Japanese planes were destroyed, and 25 other planes were badly damaged. Blenheim bombers yesterday bombed and machine-gunned a convoy of supplyladen barges in the Chindwin River near Monyma and directly hit three, causing considerable damage.