FEW MILES INTO INDIA

Dominion, Volume 37, Issue 153, 25 March 1944, Page 7

FEW MILES INTO INDIA

Advance By Japanese GRIM FIGHTING IN BURMA

(By Telegraph.—Press Assn. —Copyright.) (Received. March 23, 7.30 p.m.) LONDON, March 23.

The Japanese who crossed the iron-, tier of the Indian state of Manipur have been able to penetrate not more than five or six miles, states a coi respondent on the Burma front. The Japanese, he reports, have been fighting grimly of late in the region south of Maungdaw, in Arakan. JNo fewer than six Japanese counterattacks have been beaten back by dur tr< The' New Delhi correspondent of the Associated Press says that,, using about 20,000 men-in their offensive, the Japanese advanced from six to eight mta into India. Driving north of Jhddim, on the road skirting the west side ot the Logtak Lake area, the Japanese are about 30 miles from Imphal. The South-east Asia Command has been expecting a Japanese offensive tor several weeks, having watched the enc’mv building up for an attack, and has taken well-considered measures to meet it says the “Daily Telegraph's” Calcutta correspondent. The Allies have accumulated ample supplies wheie they arc wanted.

Manipur, a native State of India.- has an area of 8620 square miles on the Burmese border of Assam. The country is mostly elevated and well forested,, with a population of nearly half a million.

COAST BOMBARDED

Royal Indian Naval Action (Received March 24, 7.30 p.m.) BOMBAY, March 23. Ships of the Royal Indian Navy a few days ago bombarded a Japanese anchorage along the Burma coast. A barrage was kept up for 10 minutes before the Japanese shore batteries replied. Ihe ships’ camouflage was so effective that the Japanese gunners,could not get the range, and all their shots exploded harmlessly in the water. The enemy guns ceased firing before tbe bombardment was over. , When the ships were proceeding Dome a Japanese reconnaissance plane appeared. A twin-engined bomber later loosed a stick of anti-personnel bombs, none of which fell within dO yards of any vessel.