RAIN IN BURMA

Auckland Star, Volume LXXV, Issue 126, 30 May 1944, Page 5

RAIN IN BURMA

CHINDITS WITHDRAW

Gain For Stilwell's Troops At Myitkyina N.Z.P.A. and British Wireless Rec. 11.30 a.m. LONDON, May 29. The Chindits' withdrawal from the road and railway block southwest of Mogaung, reported in a South-east Asia communique, is unlikely to affect greatly General Stilwell's operations, says Reuters correspondent in the Mogaung Valley. The Japanese attack was not a surprise because enemy reinforcements were observed moving up from all directions. The Japanese, after artillery preparation, launched strong and repeated infantry attacks. The action developed into a regular seige, but bad weather prevented the Allied planes supplying the Chindits, whose ammunition and food were running short. The garrison, on the fifth day, after firing the last available round, decided to give up the road-block. The withdrawal leaves Mogaung connected with Mandalay and other Japanese positions. For that reason the Japanese may be enabled to bring up reinforcements from the south, but the Chindits are still in the area and have already carried out several raids.

"Chinese and American forces, attacking Myitkyina from the west and south-west, have in two days penetrated into the south end of the town," states the South-east Asia communique. "The Japanese exit south has been blocked. Enemy thrusts towards Myitkyina from the south-west met with heavy losses.

"North of the .town, levies ambushed a Japanese party near Njip. Chinese forces captured tne village of Sharaw, north of Kamaing.

"A column of Chinese, raiding enemy communications, surprised the Japanese garrison, inflicted severe casualties, destroyed dumps of food and ammunition and captured supplies. Gains in Assam and Arakan "On Sunday, in the Kohima area, the Allies gained all their first objectives in an attack on Aramura Spur, in Assam, but further progress was held up by heavy fire from the rear defences, combined with the difficulties caused by the weather. The operation continues. We repulsed another enemy attack north of Naga village. "South of Bishenpur, where we repulsed enemy counter-attacks, our troops continue to make progress. Our patrols are active north of the Palel Road, where many bodies of the Japanese, killed in recent lighting, were found. r 'ln Arakan there was patrol and artillery activity. No Allied aircraft are missing from patrols on Saturday and Sunday."

THOUSANDS DIE

FORCED LABOUR IN BURMA

Rec. 12.30. CHUNGKING, May 29

About 20,000 British, American and Filipino war prisoners, forced to hard labour on the ThailandBurma railway, have died through ill-treatment, lack of medicines and under-nourishment in the past 18 months, says the Central News. It added that 250,000 prisoners are now doing forced work on the railway.