SERIOUS THREAT AVERTED

Dominion, Volume 37, Issue 117, 12 February 1944, Page 8

SERIOUS THREAT AVERTED

Fighting In Arakan

ALLIED FORCES BREAK RING

(British Official Wireless aud Press Assn.) LONDON, February 10.

The Japanese claim that a Fourteenth Army force is encircled east of the Mayu mountains, but a New Delhi report says our troops still hold the pass through which the Japanese. attempted to drive in their effort to cut our supply lines. Supporting our troops R.A.F. divebombers yesterday twice attacked the enemy near Butiiedaiing, while American medium bombers and fighters made an attack on a Japanese centre south ot this point. ' A correspondent with the forces says that the Japanese attempt- to throw back our forces has been frustrated. Their move to infiltrate round to the north of our columns was unexpected, but information as to the move was obtained from a prisoner and we were able to place tanks in readiness to meet the threat. When the clash came, the enemy proved in copsiderable strength and our forces were compelled tc form a circle. . Later the tanks attacked and broke the ring, and the enemy were then driven back. American-trained Chinese troops drove the Japanese from a position eight miles west of Taro on Wednesday, states a South-east Asia communique. The troops met strong resistance 10 miles north-east of Tainpaga. Near Sumprabum the British ambushed two enemy units find killed 12 men and destroyed supply earts. In the Tiddim area, our forces continued to consolidate in the neighbourhood of Fort Whie. On the Arakan front there was normal activity west’of,the Mayu ridge. On Tuesday night our patrols found Taung Bazaar clear of the enemy. Air operations covered a wide area. Japanese camps and communications were attacked at Mogaung Kumnyn. and Buthedaung and the upper Chmdwin’argas. Japanese fighter aircraft, on a sweep near Maongdaw, were intercepted by R.A.F. fighters. Three were destroyed. three probably- destroyed, and 12 damaged, nnd one brought down by antiaircraft fire. One of our aircraft is missing. __________