BATTLE SOUTH OF IMRHAL

Press, Volume LXXX, Issue 24237, 20 April 1944, Page 5

BATTLE SOUTH OF IMRHAL

CONTROL OF ASSAM SUPPLY ROUTE JAPANESE LOSE IN ONE SECTOR (N.Z. Press Association —Copyright) LONDON, April 18. “A battle which might shortly decide the campaign for Imphal is being fought out south of this important Burmese base," says the New Delhi correspondent of the British United Press. “Our troops west of Bishenpur, where the southern arm of the Japanese movement to encircle Imphal was threatening, the British garrison, drove the enemy from a position he had occupied near the BishenpurSilchar track. The Japanese, determined not to lose more ground, count-er-attacked, and the resulting battle, which is still going on, is expected to have far-reaching effects on the whole front near Imphal. “South-east of this point, where the enemy is also making strong attacks, the Japanese are now not in a position to strike. A battalion of the Ist Gurkhas,, which lore into them last Sunday, inflicted exceptionally heavy casualties. It is rare that such a claim is made officially, so the Japanese are presumed to have suffered one of their worst set-backs since the battle for Imphal opened. The Japanese threatening Imphal from the north are now being slowly forced from positions which cost them heavy losses to take. Enemy pressure against Kohima is increasing slightly.” Following the mpve of the Southeast Asia Headquarters from New Delhi to Kandy, in Ceylon, the United States Eastern Air Command, under Major-General George Stratemeyer, has transferred its headquarters from New Delhi to the Calcutta area, bringing it 1000 miles nearer the fighting front in the Indo-Burmese sector.