DEFINITE JAP. MOVES

Auckland Star, Volume LXXIV, Issue 81, 6 April 1943, Page 3

DEFINITE JAP. MOVES

Attempt To Forestall Allies In Burma AIR ATTACKS CONTINUE Rec. 2 p.m. LONDON, April 5. "The Japanese are definitely on the" move in Burma," said Colonel Sanders, Commander of the Tenth United States Air Force Fighter Group. He added: "They realise they, must move in to forestall us. This is probably the reason for the recent spurt of Japanese air activity on the border. We will maintain our pressure, monsoon or no monsoon." The India communique, quoted by British Official Wireless, reports successful R.A.F. attacks yesterday oh Japanese positions and airfields in Burma. Offensive fighter patrols sank four out of eight sampans attacked off the Arakan coast. Several enemy aircraft were destroyed in combats in the course of the day. One of our aircraft is missing. "Six R.A.F. Hurricane pilots, including two ex-schoolmasters, taught 16 Japanese fighters a lesson in recent fighting on the Arakan front, Burma," reports the Air Ministry news service. "In just over 20 minutes they destroyed five enemy planes and probably damaged several others. Our losses were nil." A ex-schoolmaster, Warrant-Officer W. H. F. Been, of Auckland, said that he got in a long burst against one plane'from dead astern and it turned over and went straight down.