SHORTAGES FELT

Auckland Star, Volume LXXIV, Issue 31, 6 February 1943, Page 5

SHORTAGES FELT

Japanese Material And Manpower ALLIED PRESSURE IN BURMA Rec. 1 p.m. CHUNGKING, Feb. 5. "Japan has sent more gun fodder than troops to reinforce three Thailand divisions on the YunnanBurma border, where fighting continues," declared the Chinese Army spokesman. He asserted that Japan was feeling manpower and. material shortages. The Japanese,, the spokesman said, had launched a new drive for scrap metal in China, where they were using bamboo obstructions instead of barbed wire. Many Japanese ships in the Yangtse River had mounted dummy guns. Metal fittings had been stripped from Allied property in Shanghai. "The joint communique from India states: "Our pressure against enemy positions on the Arakan front continues, despite bitter opposition. In the Dombaik area two fierce Japanese counter-attacks have been repulsed with confirmed loss to the enemy. "Last night R.A.P. Liberator bombers attacked the docks and sidings at Rangoon with 10001b bombs. Many bursts were seen in the target area and large fires were "Blenheims, escorted by fighters, yesterday bombed enemy positions at Rathedaung, north of Akyab. Offensive patrols over other parts of Burma included a low-level fighter attack on Magwe aerodrome, on the Irrawaddy River. None of our aircraft is missing. "Enemy aircraft yesterday morning attacked some of our positions in the Mayu battle area with negligible results. They were met by heavy anti-aircraft fire, but details of the damage inflicted on them is not yet available."