BRITISH TRAP IN BURMA

Press, Volume LXXXI, Issue 24483, 5 February 1945, Page 8

BRITISH TRAP IN BURMA

JAPANESE CAUGHT IN ARAKAN FIERCE KANGAW BATTLE (Rec. 7.30 p.m.) LONDON, Feb. ,3. British pincers are closing on the Japanese in Arakan from the coast and from inland. . South-east Asia Headquarters states: “The battle at Kangaw, 25 miles east of Akyab, continues unabated. More than 1000 dead Japanese have been counted and 20 guns have been cap-' tured. West African troops occupied Minbya. On Ramrce Island we made progress on the left Hank. .Our troops south of the Yanbauk Chaung, the channel almost dividing Ramree in two, found an enemy gun knocked out by a successful air strike. Naval craft also bombarded enemy positions south of the Yanbauk Chaung. "In the Sagaing sector, following air and artillery bombardment, our attacking troops occupied the remainder of Ywathitgyi, on the north bank of the Irrawaddy west of Sagaing. Enemy attacks on our bridgehead in the Singu Sector continue. “Japanese observation posts in Arakan were attacked by aircraft. Medium bombers hit defensive points at Lanywa. in the oilfield region, and in the central sector other aircraft bomb-, ed troops and gun positions. River craft on the Irrawaddy \yere damaged, oil drums destroyed, and airfields bombed.’’ No Road Out For Japan No road out of Arakan exists for the Japanese guns and transport trapped by the Allied drive, nor is there any means beyond mule or porter-carried litters over difficult mountain trails by which the Japanese can evacuate wounded. British casualties have not been light, but for them there is a quick route back to hospital—by air. The battle began on January 22 when commando troops, launched from : Byebon, took landing craft up the jDainghon Chaung and landed among the mud and mangrove swamps near Kangaw. The landing was a complete i tactical surprise. It was the most difficult yet executed in the series of seaborne laps which General Christ!- '• ion’s forces are making down the i Arakan coast. There were no firm '• beaches on which guns and tanks could 1 be rushed ashore. Tire assault force had to wait for support. The Japanese < were surprised, but they recognised the < threat to .their escape line and they ’ evacuated swiftly. 1 Commandos holding on to a low hill ' 600 yards inland were shelled and at- '■ tacked throughout t)ie night. More 1 ; than 100 were killecT and wounded, but 1 the next day Hyderabadis came i through the beachhead to their aid. For three days the Air Force pound- ( ed the enemy, softening up the net- i work of defences which covered the road. After this deluge of bombs 1 infantry attack that finally cut the | road went in on January 28. Hydera- 1 badis took part of a hill near Kangaw and Baluchis secured a precarious footing on another. They held on in the face of intense shelling. Three hundred Japanese shells of all calibres came down on the position that day In the heaviest enemy artillery concentration of the Burma campaigns. At night the forward troops were again heavily counter-attacked, but held off the. enemy and inflicted heavy losses. 1 The balance-sheet of the battle for * the road shows a debit to the Japanese s of 2000 killed and wounded. 16 guns. 1 6000 gallons of petrol. 60 mule carts, t and vast quantities of equipment captured. On the rivers down which, the enemy tried to slip to the open sea high-powered, heavily armoured motor craft were destroyed. Suicidal ’ Attacks "The Japanese Eire continuing to ' fight desperately in the Kangaw area of Burma,” says the Associated Press correspondent., “With , their escape • route closed the Japanese appear determiried to make a suicidal fight to ( the end. On Wednesday morning ap- : proxlmately 90 Japanese, carrying ex- f plosives attached to poles made a suicidal attack against Allied tanks. It is • reported that none escaped unwounded.. , _ "Fighting in the central Burma area is also very determined. Here again the Japanese have been, up to their suicide operations. When 14th Army s 'troops captured Letkapin 24 Japanese, with their arms and equipment, flung t themselves, into the Irrawaddy before the eyes of the Indian troops who saw i them drown. The village of Letkapin was destroyed by incendiary bombs ' before the Allied troops entered .it, S