INDO-CHINA PORTS BOMBED

Press, Volume LXXX, Issue 24194, 29 February 1944, Page 5

INDO-CHINA PORTS BOMBED

ENEMY SHIPPING SUNK PROGRESS OF CAMPAIGN IN BURMA (N.Z. Press Association— Copyright) (Rec. 7 p.m.) CHUNGKING. Feb. 27. The American 14th Air Force caused widespread damage to Indo-Chma ports on Friday and Saturday, says General Stilwell's communique. Mitchells bombed the aerodrome and other installations at Touraine, and sank a 1000-ton cargo ship. Fighterbombers dive-bombed installations at Hongey. They hit docks and warehouses, started large fires, and sank a 1200-ton vessel. A 1700-ton vessel was severely damaged at Camphaport. All the American aircraft returned. The American-Chinese Composite Air Wing bombed Kiukiang, the Yangtse river port. . , “On February 26 our troops occupied an important hill feature and dominating point near the eastern exit of the Ngakyedauk Pass,’' says a southeast Asia communique. “As a result of the capture of this position, the last organised body of Japanese in the rear of the 7th Indian Division has been driven further to the east, where they are attempting to hold hill features in the ANvlanbyin area.

“Mopping up operations are continuing in the Mayu range against the remaining Japanese force which raided the Bowli road. East of Kalarpanzia our patrols have been active and some Japanese southward movement still appears to be taking place. In theKaladan Valley following our occupation of Kyauktan on Friday, the enemy to the, west has been forced to withdraw. West African troops advancing in the foothills to the west of Kyauktan have made some progress. ‘ There has been a marked increase in activity in the Chin Hills area during the last 36 hours. 1

“In north Burma Chinese' patrols penetrated South-east to the Numgawn river, where they met small groups of Japanese. Our forces three miles south of Lakyen-Ga cut the road on which the Japanese were retreating toward Maingkwan. All the enemy forces have been cleared from the north-west trail betwen Yanwhbung-Ga and LakyenGa. In the Fort Hertz area our patrols advanced 20 mijes south of Sumprabum.”

ATROCITIES IN BURMA JAPANESE ACTIONS IN FIELD HOSPITAL LONDON, Feb. 27. “The Japanese, for 36 hours after their seizure of the 7th Indian Division’s improvised field, hospital at the Ngakyedauk Pass, in Burma, on February 7, used the wards as battle'headquarterS. They killed British and Indian doctors and nursing orderlies and murdered patients in their beds,” says the correspondent of the “Daily !jVlail’' on the Arakan front. “Wounded men whose moans might have given away their position were bayoneted. The Japanese refused water to dying troops and refused to allow doctors to attend them. They bound the prisoners’ hands behind their backs and pushed them forward in couples as a screen against fire from the attacking British tanks and infantry. “Four doctors, at least 25 wounded soldiers, and an unknown number of orderlies, had been massacred by the time the West Yorkshire Regiment threw the Japanese out of the hospital. An Indian doctor whom the Japanese left for dead told how, after a brutal interrogation by a Japanese general, British and Indian prisoners were dragged into a nullah, where they were forced to sit with their hands so tightly bound that many cried with the pain. • Wounded Refused Water

“Others begged for water, but the Japanese ignored us,” he said. “After what seemed hours we heard a British tank approaching. The Japanese pulled out British n.c.o.’s and pushed thhm to the entrance of the nullah. The tank opened fire with machineguns and eight- of our men were wounded. The Japanese lay back under cover laughing and smoking. When our chaps tried to withdraw they were driven back to the line of fire. The tanks attacked three times. We were also dive-bombed and came under mortar fire, and eight more, including myself, were injured. “The wounded by this time were screaming for water. Hardly a single man was left unscathed. The Japanese refused the wounded water and bandages. They bayoneted one man and shot another because they were crying with pain.’

“The Japanese, When they prepared for a retreat in the evening, took aside and shot the ordinary British soldiers and some Indians. I pointed out that we were doctors and Red Cross workers, and their answer was to put their rifles to our heads and fire. Two bullets hit me, after which I fell into a slit trench.and lay all night among the dead and dying.” Major E. J. Currant said: “I lay all night listening to the Japanese walking up and down. The patients at intervals would cry, ‘Don’t. Don't.’ Then there would be silence.”

DAMAGE AT TRUK MORE SUNKEN SHIPS COUNTED U.S. BOMBERS RAID CAROLINES WASHINGTON, Feb. 27. Reconnaissance photographs of Truk reveal that the total damage to shipping was greater than was originally announced. Twenty-three ships wen> sunk, six were probably sunk, and 11 were damaged, instead of 19 sunk, seven probably sunk, and nine damaged, as reported earlier. ThisJs stated in a Pacific Fleet communique. which adds: “Last Friday and Saturday Army and Navy aircraft

attacked enemy bases in the central Pacific area. Army Liberators on Friday dropped 30 tons of bombs on Ponape, hitting the docks, aerodrome installations, a gasoline dump, and a cargo ship. . “Army Mitchells and Warhawks and Navy Venturas attacked four enemyheld Marshalls bases. Army Liberators bombed Kusie, and a Navy search aeroplane bombed Nauru. On Saturday Mitchells, Warhawks, and Venturas attacked three enemy-held Marshall atolls." '

A return to the teaching of pure physics to stage three and honours standards was recommended recently to the Auckland University College Council by Professor P. H. Eurbidge, professor of physics. It was stated that these two courses had necessarily been in abeyance because of war effects, but there was now a demand for them. Professor Eurbidge recommended that the college should continue the teaching of radio physics, and appoint a lecturer in this subject, so releasing the present lecturer for a return to the pure physics course*. ,