NO CHANGE IN BURMA

Press, Volume LXXIX, Issue 23918, 9 April 1943, Page 5

NO CHANGE IN BURMA

EFFECT OF JAPANESE OUTFLANKING MOVE

SUPPLY DIFFICULTIES OF BRITISH (N.Z. Press Association—Copyright)

(Rec. 10.30 p.m.) LONDON, April 8. To-day’s communique from New Delhi on the fighting on the Arakan front, in north-west Burma, reports no change in the last 24 hours. In one sector*. Japanese iftfantry units were fired on by British artillery over, open sights, and withdrew after suffering heavy casualties. A statement issued in New Delhi says: “The latest readjustments in our positions, in the Mayu area of Burma were necessitated by difficulties of supply and communications. To maintain our positions it was necessary that there should be a considerable number of troops, which could not be maintained during the rainy season. “The enemy move was strongly contested by our naval craft, but, in spite of losses the enemy succeeded in infiltrating small parties. Heavy casualties were inflicted on the enemy. The enemy gathered considerable land and air forces, but succeeded only in taking an area which in any case would be untenable in the rainy season. He may try to gain a further local success before the rainy season.’’ The Allied force, which withdrew with all its equipment, foiled a Japanese attempt at ambush. Enemy Outflanking Move “On the Arakan front in Burma, the position of our troops south of Rathedaung remains unchanged,” said yesterday's British communique from Burma. “Unable to make further progress in that area the enemy dug. in at Taungmaw and then proceeded in the last several days to develop a move against our exposed northern flank on the Mayu Peninsula.

“Infiltrating across the Mayu river south of Kwazoc, the enemy succeeded over the week-end in mounting a direct threat to our communications in the narrow strip between the hills and the sea north of Donbaik. To meet this outflanking movement the necessary readjustments were made in our positions on the Mayu Peninsula. In engagements here and with .Japanese units operating in the hills area and to

the south our troops inflicted severe casualties on the enemy. Fighting continues.

“Yesterday morning Royal Air Force Blenheims, escorted by fighters, bombed the enemy-occupied village of Thinganet, five miles west of Htizwe. Bursts were observed in the centre of the target area. In the afternoon our fighters machine-gunned enemy positions. Last night bombs were dropped on the Japanese aerodrome at Pakokku on the Irrawaddy, south-west of Mandalay. All our aircraft returned safely.”

“Although some aspects of the British campaign in Arakan have been disappointing, the British Army has succeeded in preventing the Japanese from consolidating their positions and using Arakan as a springboard for an attack. against India. The campaign has also neutralised Akyab as an air base or supply base for a Japanese attack on India,” says the British United Press correspondent at New Delhi. The correspondent adds: “The object of the armed forces in India is to defend the country until the Allies are ready to retake Burma. The British Imperial forces, in spite of recent setbacks, are still fighting well insicje Burma. The Japanese may attempt to gain local successes before the monsoon breaks, but it is too late for a large-scale Japanese invasion of India via Arakan ” 1

A small battle between British and' Japanese patrols was fought near the, Assam-Burma border on Tuesday, the objective being the possession of 29 elephants. Neither side gained the prize, as the noise of the firing stampeded the elephants, which fled into the jungle, The Japanese, however, came qff second best, as a squadron of American bombers found them and shot them up.

“LUFTWAFFE WILL BOMB ENGLAND”

GERMANS THREATEN HEAVIER RAIDS (Rec. 9 p.m.) LONDON. April 8. “The Luftwaffe, at a convenient moment, will bomb England, particularly London, in a more terrible way than ever before,’’ said a spokesman at a Wilhelmstrasse press conference. The Berlin correspondent of the Swedish newspaper “Tidningen” says the Germans are wild about the increasing Allied bombings. No doubt the Germans will really strike back with all their strength as soon as possible. “The hour will come when the Luftwaffe will strike back blows more terrible than ever,” said a German High Command spokesman, referring to the American daylight raids on Antwerp and on the Renault works at Billancourt.

Reports received in Stockholm from Germany state that it is estimated that 300,000 people, mainly women, children, and men unable to work, had been evacuated from Essen before the last British raid. The Berlin radio has announced that according to preliminary figures the American attack on Antwerp killed 2007 persons and wounded 603. There are still 130 missing. One hundred houses were destroyed. The radio said that 311 persons were killed in the American raid on Billancourt. Photographs confirm that considerable damage was done by Mosquito bombers in recent raids on Nantes, in France, and on Ehrang and Trier, in Germany. These photographs underline the importance of transportation bombing in the general Royal Air Force strategy.

DOMINIONS’ EFFORT IN AIR WAR

PRAISE FROM CAPTAIN BALFOUR

(Official War Correspondent N.Z.E.F.) CAIRO. Aprjl 6. A tribute to the part played by the Dominions in the air war was paid by Captain H. H. Balfour, Under-Secre-tary of State for Air, at a press conference in Cairo. He said the effort of the Dominions to supply excellent types of airmen was remarkable. New Zealand had produced an outstandingly large number of volunteers whose fighting qualities were well known. It was a wonderful example of what could be done when there was the will to win. New Zealanders as fighter pilots, bomber crews, aircraftsmen, and administrative officers were a credit to their country and the Empire.

He said the Empire air training scheme had paid enormous dividends. The Germans more than ever were feeling the strain. Never had the Royal Air Force been stronger, better equipped, and in greater heart, thanks to the support of the Dominions.