NEW BURMA ROAD

Dominion, Volume 37, Issue 3, 29 September 1943, Page 5

NEW BURMA ROAD

Troops Beat Back Enemy

As Work Proceeds

NEW DELHI, September 27. A new Burma Road, details of which, have hitherto been secret, has reached’ Japanese-occupied north Burma. Chinese troops, trained and led by Americans, are beating back the Japanese as a polygot swarm of road constructors bites deeper into the jungle. The Associated Press of Great Britain says that the first portion of the road has been built, but much more must be constructed before it links up with the old Burma Road. It is hoped to speed up construction during the coming dry weather so the road will at least be usable for the transport of supplies in the event of occuption of part or all of Burma. The road runs from Assam into north Burma and will eventually link up with the old Burma Road between Lashio and Chungking. The route along the southern slopes of the Himalayas goes through some of the world’s wildest mountains and thickest jungles. It is officially named the Ledo Road. Construction began on December It), 19-11, under the direction of American army engineers aided by many bulldozers, trucks and other mechanical equipment brought 16,000 miles by road, rail and sea. American negro troops are taking an important part, assisted by many IndoChinese and Burmese. A British United-Press correspondent says that the engineers consider this battle against the jungle and torrential rain—the rainfall is up to 300 inches annually in places—mud, landslides, leeches and malaria, to be the toughest they are ever likely to wage.

Gisborne Man In R.A.F. Team. Flving Officer Eric Graul, Gisborne, played for R.A.F. v. South Wales on September 25, states the Press Association’s special correspondent. It was. a draw, 9 all. Flight Sergeant I. Dustin, Palmerston. North, was a reserve .forward-