BRITISH EXTRICATED SAFELY FROM BURMA

Auckland Star, Volume LXXIII, Issue 114, 16 May 1942, Page 7

BRITISH EXTRICATED SAFELY FROM BURMA

JAPANESE FOILED

Withdrawal Described As

Considerable Feat

U.P.A. and BriUSli Wireless,

Rec. 1 p.m

LONDON, May 15.

It is officially stated at New Delhi, according to a correspondent there, that General Alexander's forces in Burma have now succeeded in extricating themselves from a precarious salient and have successfully withdrawn to a more secure sector in the north.

This operation is described by the official commentator in New Delhi as a military feat of the highest order on the part of General Alexander and his forces. It is stated General Alexander's withdrawal was made with the loss of only a few vehicles and heavy armament, which were destroyed by the British forces since the nature of the country over which they had to pass rendered it impossible to take them with them. The British forces had to fight their way back through extraordinarily difficult country, interspersed with rivers over which there were no bridges. The enemy was always closely on their heels trying to cut off their retreat.

It is clear from this New Delhi announcement that the British forces are still successfully resisting the Japanese while fighting their way back towards the Indian frontier. Meanwhile, the communique issued at New Delhi indicates that the R.A.F. is continuing to assist the withdrawal by attacking the Japanese rear, and states: "The R.A.F. bombers carried out a further raid on enemy barges on the Chindwin River yesterday. The barges were successfully bombed and machinegunned and several were left burning."

Destruction of Weapons

General Alexander's troops destroyed tanks, guns and lorries during the last stage of the retreat from Burma, says the Daily Express correspondent at New Delhi. Struggling through almost trackless jungles and across bridgeless rivers swollen by heavy rains, the troops made an orderly fighting withdrawal up to the Chindwin Valley. They repeatedly made a stand to gain time in which to destroy heavy equipment which they were unable to transport across the Naga Hills. Japanese troops and barges were moving up the Chindwin after the British, but they were bombed and machinegunned day and night by the Allies.

The Chungking radio said the t nited Press correspondent .from India related to-day that American bombing planes, commanded ny General Brereton, have destroyed or damaged 75 Japanese planes, suffering only one loss themselves. In addition, American bombers have battered the docks and shipping at Rangoon and the Japanese Fleet in the Andaman Islands. The Bomber Command has solved the problem of getting Indians to work by setting an example while toiling side by side with the natives. The Americans have established their own kitchens, which are the only places in India where apple pie can be found or pancakes and syrup are served for breakfast.

It is authoritatively stated that some Chinese are still fighting in the neighbourhood of Maymyo and north-west of that town. The Japanese to the north-east are in two columns, one of which is believed to be making towards I'aoshan and the other towards Myitkyina.

Burma Road Fighting A Chungking communique states: Heavily reinforced, the Japanese have fought their way into Tengyueh, but fighting in that area is still in progress. The main Japanese column, which has driven 125 miles up the Burma Koad, is reported to be still at Hungmushu, on the west bank of the Sal ween, where the Chinese are attacking.

Inside Burma the Japanese troops are advancing northward along the railway from Mandalay. They occupied Kini station on May 9, while the Japanese advancing westward from Bhamo made a forced cj'ossing of the Irrawaddy on the evening of May 10. They were bitterly resisted by the Chinese.

Heavily engaged, yet still advancing through China's back door, Japanese columns fought further up the Burma Road to-day, and to the west threatened the ancient city of Tengyueh, on the old caravan route between China and Burma, says the Associated Press correspondent in Chungking. One column branched from the main route to assault Tengyueh, where heavy fighting is still raging.

The other column, in spite of grievous casualties, is pushing nortn-east from Lungling. 100 miles inside China, to the point where the Burma Road climbs to an altitude of 7500 ft and then plunges 5000 ft to the Salween River.

The Chinese said they had destroyed the Salween bridges and were holding the east bank in strength. Japanese still on the Burma Road captured Taochi and pushed on towards Hungmushu, west of the Salween.

The Royal Air Force struck successfully at enemy troops, a steamer and barges proceeding up the Chindwin River yesterday, says the British Official Wireless. At Akyab three more enemy aeroplanes were damaged.