JAPANESE DRIVEN INTO RIVER

Evening Post, Volume CXXXIII, Issue 43, 20 February 1942, Page 5

JAPANESE DRIVEN INTO RIVER

LONDON, February 19.

Chinese troops are reported to have made pro-* >'gress in Burma, where heavy fighting continues on I the Bilin River. | This is announced in the Rangoon communique, •.which says that casualties on both sides have been heavy, and adds: "The enemy tried to cross the Bilin but our troops drove them into the water."

In Chungking1, the military spokesman said today that the yanguard of the Chinese troops which entered Burma nearly a fortnight ago had made contact with the enemy on a tributary of the Mekong River. The engagement, which lasted between one and two hours, resulted in the enemy being driven from the north to the south bank of the stream.

The spokesman added that Chinese troops were now ready to attempt to relieve enemy pressure in Lower Burma.

Fierce fighting continues in Burma where Japanese attempts to get Over the Bilin River have been frustrated.

The fierce battle which began on Tuesday is still going on, but the Japanese have not yet succeeded in crossing* the Bilin. Today's Army communique from Rangoon says that since the withdrawal behind the river operations have developed.

'the enemy at first succeeded in cutting our western flank. Our troops were subjected to heavy attacks and a counter-attack had to be launched. The enemy tried to engage our left flank but our positions were kept in tact.

During these operations the enemy tried to cross the Bilin, but our troops drove the attackers into the river. Fighting was extremely fierce and casualties were severe on both sides.

. The present Japanese thrust is being made in the direction of the railway which connects Rangoon with the terminus of the Burma Road into China.

A new supply route from India to China has been arranged as a result of General Chiang Kai-shek's visit to India. An official statement issued in Chungking says that concrete measures have been decided upon for the transport of supplies from India to China, the capacity of which will exceed those taken along the Burma Road. '

Rangoon as a port of entry has been abandoned and has been mined.

In Calcutta, the Governor said that Ceylon had suddenly become a bastion. The fall of Singapore, he said, meant the beginning of a new phase—an extremely critical and. crucial phase in the World War.