KAREN ADVANCE IN CENTRAL BURMA

Press, Volume LXXXV, Issue 25738, 25 February 1949, Page 7

KAREN ADVANCE IN CENTRAL BURMA

Government Preparations To Defend Mandalay

EVACUATION'OF BRITISH 1 WOMEN AND CHILDREN

(N.Z. Press Association—Copyright) (Received 8 p.m.) RANGOON, February 23. A Karen “blitzkrieg” resulted in the capture of Myingyan, an important railway town 60 miles south-west of Mandalay, near the Central Burma oilfields. As alarm spread* through Central Burma Mandalay—the second largest city in Burma—has been placed under heavy guard by Government troops and the People’s Volunteer Organisation. An earlier press report said that 2000 Karens were still holding the Central Burtna town of Meiktila, which they captured last Sunday. A. Government report said that a battle was developing at Mahlaing, 20 miles north-west of Meiktila, , where Government troops were trying to halt a Karen drive on Myingyan. Two Sunderland flying-boats, have evacuated 70 British women and children from the Karen-threatened oilfields of Chauk and Yenanyaung, in Central Burma. However, a British Embassy official said there was no necessity for a general evacuation of Burma by British personnel, and oilfield workers would remain at their posts until further A Burmese Government official said he was unable to confirm reports that Karen rebels had occupied Maymyo.