PLANES HIT BACK

Evening Post, Volume CXXXIII, Issue 116, 19 May 1942, Page 5

PLANES HIT BACK

WITHDRAWAL IN BURMA

GREAT DAMAGE DONE

LONDON, May 18. Japanese troops are being continuously attacked by the R.AJT. in western Burma. This evening's ' air communique from New Delhi says that on the Chindwin Eiver Blenheim bombers yesterday raided Kalewa. High explosives were dropped and important warehouses were hit, as well as moored barges and river craft. Reconnaissances were also carried out over Burma. One of our planes is missing. [ It is officially stated in New Delhi that these attacks are preventing the Japanese from consolidating their positions in Burma." Great damage is being done by British and American aircraft. Kalewa is also mentioned in the Burma army communique, which says that Japanese units have made one or two unopposed landing* there, on both" banks of the Chiadwin. It adds that our forces early withdrew from Kalewa some days ago. RETREAT UNHAMPERED. The communique also says that the movement of the Imperial troops in Burma continues to be. unhampered by any contact with the enemy. An Indian Army observer has given a correspondent with General Alexander's forces an account of our troops at Kalewa. He said that when troops of the Indian division reached thy. place after their 600-mile march from' Rangoon and saw the Chindwin River, they sang "Ole Man River." They had fought their way out of the last enemy trap. They packed their necessaries on mules and struck north again. It was a difficult march. It started at dusk and when night fell the jungle shut out even the starlight The track was only fit for mountain goats and often mules lost their footing and fell over the precipice. In the early morning they saw the Chindwin'. RIVER RISEN. Royal Marines were running th* evacuation scheme to and fro over the Chindwin, carrying men, mules, guns, and equipment. The monsoon was about to break and the river had risen about three feet, making the" old jetty unusable, so the Indian sappers and miners built a new one. , "We crossed the river with a holiday feeling, marched through the town, and drew our badly-needed rations of tea, meat, and butter," the correspondent was told. "Later we made camp in the jungle."

The 17th Indian Division was said to be intact, and in high spirits, although a certain amount of their transport, including guns, had to be destroyed near Shwegyin, a few miles south of Kalewa.

SUPPLY SITUATION

DIFFICULTY GREAT

<Rec. 9 a.m.) RUGBY, May 18. General Alexander, interviewed by the "Daily Telegraph's" Calcutta correspondent, said he was pleased with the tremendous attempt to meet his supply needs, but emphasised the great difficulties between the terminus of the supply line arid the front.— B.O.W.