RIVER CROSSED

Auckland Star, Volume LXXV, Issue 63, 15 March 1944, Page 5

RIVER CROSSED

DRIVE INTO BURMA British Troops Pierce Important Japanese Line N.Z. Press Association—Copyright Rec. 10.30 a.m. LONDON, Mar. 14. "Several of our columns, in conjunction with other operations already in progress, nave crossed the upper reaches of the Chindwin River at several places north of Tamanthi," reports the South-east Asia communique. "Our troops have made further progress to the east along the Maungdaw-Buthidaung road."

The Associated Press New Delhi correspondent, commenting on the communique, says that the Japanese are now faced with a situation where they must launch serious diversionary operations in the face of a steadily increasing threat aimed at the recapture of North Burma and opening up a land route to China.

The correspondent reports that British columns marched 100 miles through the Indian jungle and across the Burma frontier in order to get to the Chindwin River, which has been in Japanese hands since the occupation of Burma in 1942. The Japanese used the river for supplying their forces facing the British, and Indian troops across the frontier.