MOGAUNG ROAD CUT

Press, Volume LXXX, Issue 24271, 31 May 1944, Page 3

MOGAUNG ROAD CUT

ALLIED ADVANCE IN BURMA CHINDITS WITHDRAW (N.Z. Press Association —Copyright) (Kec 11 pm.) LONDON. May SO. General Stilwell’s Chinese forces, advancing down the Mogaung valley in north Burma, have cut the road between Kamaing and the importan. Japanese base at Mogaung, In central Burma the Chindits have been forced to withdraw from the road blocks which have been blocking Japanese communications with the garrisons meeting General StilwelTs offensives in the north. “Chinese and American forces attacking Myitkyina, in northern Burma, from the west and the south-west have, in two days, penetrated into the south end of the town," says a south-east Asia communique. “The Japanese exit in the south has been blocked. Enemy thrusts towards Myitkyina from the south-west met with heavy losses. North of the town levies ambushed a Japanese party near Njip. “Chinese forces have captured the village of Sharaw. north of Kamaing (in the Mogaung area). "After five days of heavy lighting. Lieutenant-General Lentaigne's Chindits have withdrawn from a position on the enemy's line of communications south-west of Mogaung. “A column of Chinese, raiding enemy communications, surprised the Japan-

ese garrison, inflicted severe casualties, destroyed dumps of food and ammunition, and captured supplies. “On Sunday, in the Kohima area, the Allies gained all their first objectives in an attack on the Aramura Spur, but further progress was held up by heavy fire from the rear defences, combined with difficulties caused by the weather. The operation is con-’ tinuing, “We have repulsed another enemy attack north of Naga village. South of Bishenpur we have repulsed enemy counter-attacks. Our troops continue to make progress. Our patrols have been active north of the Palel road, where many bodies of Japanese, killed in the recent fighting, were found. “In Arakan there has been patrol and artillery activity. No Allied aircraft are missing from patrols on Saturday and Sunday." It is believed that the advance in the Myitkyina area has blocked the last Japanese escape route. “The Chindits’ withdrawal from the road and rail block south-west of Mogaung, as reported in the communique, is not likely greatly, to affect Lieutenant-General Stilwell’s operations,’’ says Reuter’s corresponded; the Mogaung valley. “The Japanese attack was not a surprise, because enemy reinforcements had been _ observed moving up from all directions. The Japanese, after an artillery preparation, launched strong and repeated infantry attacks. The action developed into a regular seige, but bad weather prevented Allied aeroplanes supplying the Chindits, whose ammunition and food were running short. The garrison, on the fifth day. after firing the last available round, decided to give up the road block.

“Their withdrawal leaves Mogaung connected with Mandalay and other Japanese positions. For that reason the Japanese may be enabled to briffig up reinforcements from the south, but' the Chindits, who are still in the area, have already carried out several raids.” ’ "Competent foreign authorities express the opinion that the Salween offensive is the best Chinese military operation yet made in the war against Japan,” says a ‘‘New York Times” correspondent on the Salween front. “They point out that it is a deliberate and unprovoked offensive, that already the Chinese have killed about 2100 Japanese in a fortnight, and that its strategy has been intelligently planned on a broad scale. Supplies have gone forward more efficiently than many sceptical foreigners expected.”

REVOLUTION IN ECUADOR QUITO GOVERNMENT RESIGNS REBELS SUCCEED IN GUAYAQUIL (N.Z. Press Association—Copyright) (Rec. 11 p.m.) NEW YORK, May 29. ‘‘The President of Ecuador (Don Carlos Arroya del Rio) and all the members of his Cabinet resigned tonight after a revolutionary junta had seized power in Guayaquil, the second city of Ecuador,” says an Associated Press correspondent at Quito, the capital. Crowds paraded in the streets of Quito hailing the former President, Don Velasco Ibara. "Don Carlos, a firm supporter of pan-American solidarity, handed over power to the Senate Vice-President, Dr. Fausto Navarro Allende. and then sought refuge at the United Stales Embassy.” The United Press correspondent says that at least 50 persons were killed and 100 injured in street fighting in Guayaquil. The revolutionists announced that they had staged the revolt because they were dissatisfied with the antidemocratic proceedings of the present Government. They demanded free elections and the return of Velasco Ibara.

The Associated Press correspondent reports that the revolt was designed to occur before the elections sche-* duled for next week. The revolutionists claimed they would be farcical because the former President had not been allowed to return to participate in the election campaign. The revolutionists, he says, seized control in Guayaquil after 10 hours of bitter street fighting, and organised a provisional junta which was meeting in the Government buildings. ARCTIC ROUTE MADE SAFE SUCCESS OF NAVY’S TACTICS (Rcc. 7 p.m.) LONDON, May 29. “The British Fleet has gunned and bombed its way into what appears to be absolute mastery of the Arctic route to Russia,” says a British United Press naval correspondent, after four months with the Royal Navy. “For more than 100 days the Fleet, free from attack, has been sweeping into the very shadows of Norway, as an invasion prelude. I am convinced’ that the Allies have won the battle of the Arctic just as they won the battle of the Atlantic. They have smashed U-boat attacks and hammered the German surface fleet until it is doubtful ■ whether it constitutes more than a feeble threat. German aircraft attacks have ceased completely. "The Royal Navy is using tactics similar to those used in the Atlantic. It is covering shipping with aircraft carriers as well as other escorts, and sometimes is making the run without loss.”