IN HANDS OF ALLIES

Bay of Plenty Times, Volume LXXII, Issue 13429, 17 April 1944, Page 3

IN HANDS OF ALLIES

WHOLE OF iMPHAi PLAIN FIGHTING CONFINED TO HILLS Position Won From Enemy Japanese Succeed in Cutting Road London. April 16. Admiral Mountbatten's Burma communique said this afternoon that the Iraphal Plain was entirely in our hands. Fighting was confined to neighbouring hills, where we are continuing to attack the enemy.

North-east of the plain our troops on Thursday night captured a hill feature for which there has been fighting for days.

<Jt was stated in an earlier message that on the Indo-Burmese liontier the Japanese have cut the road which runs from Kohima to the Assam railway, and we are in action with them between Kohima and Demokur, the- nearest station on the line.

One correspondent says it %eems that Allied troops are already striking down from Demokur to meet the Japanese. There has been little change round Imphal but messages from the front say that at some points the enemy stands less than eight miles, as the crow flies, from the fringe of Imphal town.

The Japanese have lost more troops in the local fighting that is still going on in the hills north and north-east of Imphal Plains. In northern Burma Chinese and American columns have driven into the Mogaung Valley. Allied air forces have again given widespread support to our ground forces.