SMALL ADVANCE IN BURMA

Dominion, Volume 37, Issue 96, 19 January 1944, Page 5

SMALL ADVANCE IN BURMA

Considerable Air Activity

LONDON, January 18.

The South-east Asia communique states that west of the Mayu Mountains our troops made a further small advance, occupying two villages. The Japanese attempted to re-enter ‘both these villages with fighting patrols, but the attacks were repulsed. Advanced of our forces are reported three miles southeast of Maungdaw. Supporting these movements, R.A.F. dive-bombers on Saturday carried out heavy* attacks on the enemy’s forward positions. In northern Burma, six miles south of Sumprabum, levies successfully ambushed a considerable party of Japanese. Numerous air attacks were made on enemy occupied villages, positions aud supply dumps in the Kalemyo*and upper Chindwin areas. The regular sweeps against river and rail communicatious were also maintained. Two of our aircraft are missing.

Aircraft have ranged over the railway system north of Mandalay. • Pilots along the Irrawaddy River set fire to a steamer and some rafts carrying oil drums. More Japanese oil' was left burning when fighters destroyed oil tanks near Chidwin. General, Stilwell’s communique from Chungking says Mitchells raided the power plant at Hougay, Indo-China, strafing the entire area. Bombs demolished an outbuilding and near-missed the main 'buildings. Railway installations were also directly hit at Campha Port. Other •Mitchells sank a collier off Swatow and then bombed the lighthouse and destroyed many buildings on Nanpeng Island. Mitchells of the Sino-American wing, sweeping the South China coast, shot down a Japanese medium bomber. All our machines returned.