ALLIED PROGRESS

Dominion, Volume 37, Issue 124, 21 February 1944, Page 5

ALLIED PROGRESS

Japanese Lose Heayily In Burma (British Official Wireless.) (Received February 20, 7 p.m.) RUGBY, February 19. Operations to clear the.Ngakyedauk Pass area of Arakan continue., states a South-east Asia communique. The enemy on Wednesday . night made several unsuccessful attacks on one of our defensive areas at the south-east end of the pass. This, and mopping-up operations on the Buthedaung-Maungdaw road, cost the enemy heavy casualties. - Chinese troops moving south and west of Taipha Ga are meeting only patrol resistance. There has been widespread patrol activity on all fronts and we have been successful in a number of ambush attacks, particularly one in North Burma. Air operations included a “very successful” attack by R.A.F. heavy bombers on Mandalay last night. From all the widespread Anglo-American -air operations no aircraft are missing. The R.A.F. Bristol Beaufighter operating so effectively on the Burma front is called by Japanese soldiers the “whispering death.” These heavily-armed machines sweep in-without warning and the first indication of their attack is the deathrattle of thfijr guns. On one occasion a Beaufighter strafed two squads of enemy soldiers on a parade ground. “As I pressed the firing button,” said the pilot, “I was surprised to see they were still standing at attention. They could not have heard me.”