JAPANESE MOVE IN BURMA

Press, Volume LXXIX, Issue 23917, 8 April 1943, Page 5

JAPANESE MOVE IN BURMA

THREAT, TO BRITISH POSITIONS READJUSTMENTS ON MAYU PENINSULA (N.2. Press Association—Copyright) LONDON, April 7. A communique from India reports that the Japanese on the Burma front have infiltrated across the Mayu river, and over the week-end succeeded in mounting a direct threat to the British lines of communication on the narrow strip between the hills and the sea north of Donbaik. The communique says that the necessary readjustments of the British positions on the Mayu peninsula have been made to meet this enemy outflanking movement. “Royal Air Force Hurricanes yesterday intercepted more than 50 Japanese bombers and fighters which were

attempting an attack on south-eastern Bengal,” said an earlier communique. “Some of the raiders broke away and dropped bombs on Maungdaw, causing minor damage and a few casualties. The rest of the force, which was heading northwards, was turned back by our fighters, and they jettisoned their bombs harmlessly in the jungle. “In many dombats at least 11 enemy aircraft were damaged, two so severely that it is unlikely that they regained their base.

“On Monday morning Blenheims, escorted by fighters, successfully bombed the air base at Meiktila. The escorting Hurricanes damaged four enemy fighters and shot down one without loss or damage to themselves. Other Blenheims attacked the railway line in the Bongytung Gorge, south of Katha, with good results. “At night heavy bombers . successfully attacked the central railway station at Rangoon. Several 10001b bombs were dropped, and the fires started could be seen 60 miles away." CHINESeTaTTACK IN SHANTUNG NEW JAPANESE CROSSING OP YANGTSE (Rec. 12.30 a.m.) CHUNGKING. April 6. A Chinese raiding party operating 100 miles behind the Japanese lines in Shantung Province engaged 3000 Japanese, killing at least 100. The Asr sociated Press, says that this deep penetration occurred where the Chinese are constantly threatening Japanese rail communication, particularly between Tsingtau and Tsinan, one of the most important links supplying the Japanese front line. In another engagement 200 Japanese were killed. In Honan Province - the Japanese have made a new pressing of the Yangtse river near shasi. The Chinese counter-attacked and held the invaders in check. The Chinese attacked at several points an important Japanese base north-west of Hankow, 'in- 1 dieting heavy casualties. NEW uIT ARMY REGULATIONS POLITICAL INTENTION SUGGESTED (Rec. 11 p.m.) NEW YORK, April 7. “General George Marshall. Chief of Staff of the United States Army, has issued new regulations prohibiting men on active duty from seeking or accepting public positions,” says the “New York Times" Washington correspondent. “A War Department spokesman described the order as a routine one without political implications. However, political circles in Washington express the opinion that the regulations might be aimed at General Mac Arthur, who is considered a possible Presidential candidate for 1944.

“At a press conference to-day Mr Roosevelt declared that he had never heard of the regulations, and he wanted to know at what they were supposed to be aimed.” The Washington correspondent of the New York “Daily News” says: “The sudden Army decree is interpreted in the capital as a direct declaration from the White House that General MacArthur must be considered as a candidate in 1944.” The correspondent points out that General Mac Arthur will be 64 in January, 1944, and may be forced to relinquish his combat command because of the compulsory retirement law, but will not be prohibited from engaging in political activity. UNIFYING FRENCH LEADERSHIP (8.0. W.) RUGBY, April 6. The British Foreign Secretary (Mr Anthony Eden) received General de Gaulle to-day, and it is assumed that he informed him of what took place during his visit to North 'America, and particularly about what concerns the future of France. Much progress has been made in the last few weeks towards unity between various Frenchmen fighting the enemy. General de Gaulle’s representative, General Catroux, has been in close consultation with General Giraud. It is understood that the reasons given by General Eisenhower for preferring to postpone General de Gaulle’s visit to North Africa are concerned with the necessity of concentrating on impending large-scale Allied operations in that theatre, of war. It is pointed out in London that this decision, like all the steps he has taken as Allied Commander-in-Chief, were made after consultation with Britain. FORMER PRESIDENT OF FRANCE M. MILLERAND DEAD (Rec. 7 p.m.) LONDON, April 6. The Berlin radio has announced the death at Versailles of M. Alexandre Millerand, a former President of France. He was 84 years of‘ age. M. Millerand first entered a French Cabinet in 1899. He was Minister of War in the Poincare Cabinet, 1912, and in the Vivian! Cabinet, 1914-15. In 1920 be became Prime Minister and Minister of Foreign Affairs, and in September of the same year he was elected President of the Republic. He resigned in June, 1924, because of the hostility of the Left majority in the Chamber.