BOMBED BY ENEMY

Evening Post, Volume CXXXIII, Issue 41, 18 February 1942, Page 6

BOMBED BY ENEMY

EVACUATED BURMESE TOWN

JAPANESE STRATEGY

(By Telegraph—Press Association—Copyright.)

(Rec. 1.30 p.m.) LONDON, Feb. 17

It is officially stated in Rangoon that there is no change in. the position of the- British forces on the west bank of the Bilin River.

Half an hour after the last British troops left Thaton, the Japanese began to occupy the town. The British withdrawal was accomplished with only minor clashes between the rearguards of Gurkhas and other Indian troops and the Japanese.

It is reported unofficially that immediately afterwards R.A.F. bombers attacked the town, blasting warehouses containing supplies left by the withdrawn troops and the railway station.

They also destroyed sections of the railway linking Thaton and Moulm'eih.

The Japanese forces in the Thaton sector are now north of Rangoon. The enemy strategy is undoubtedly to develop a sweep to the westward of Pegu, about 50 miles north of Rangoon, and thus make, a serious threat to the important railway link with Mandalay and the Burma Road. However, strong British forces bar the way. There is confidence that the British forces will hold the present line. <•■■ ■''.'.-

It is understood that General Hutton is determined to fight with all the men and" materials at his disposal io hold Rangoon and the Burma Road. New Chinese armies.will undoubtedly also play a. prominent role. Rangoon is hastily putting the finishing touches to its defences. The population has dwindled in a few weeks from 400,000 to 150,000 and the evacuation of non-essential workers is nearly completed.. ..;•

In Chungking the Ministry of Economics spokesman declared that if the Burma Road falls, aeroplanes will be used to ferry essential war materials to the Chinese war factories.