TACTICAL SURPRISE

Evening Star, Issue 25400, 3 February 1945, Page 7

TACTICAL SURPRISE

THE KANGAW OPERATION (Rec. 11 a.m.) RUGBY, Feb. 2. No road out exists for Japanese guns and transport trapped by the. Allied drive, nor is there any means beyond mule—or porter—carried litters over difficult mountain trails by which the Japanese can evacuate their wounded. British casualties have not been light, but for them there is a quick route back to hospital by air. • The battle began on January 21, when commando troops launched from Byebon took landing craft up the Dainghon. Chaung and landed among mud and mangrove swamps, near Kangaw. The landing was a complete, tactical surprise. It was the most difficult yet executed in a series of seaborne laps which General Christison's forces are making down the Arakan coast. There are *no firm beaches on which guns and tanks could be rushed ashore. The assault force had to wait for support. Tlhe Japanese were surprised, but recognised the threat to their escape line and evacuated swiftly. Commandos holding on to a low hill, 600yds inland, were shelled and attacked throughout the night. More than 100 were killed or wounded, but next day the Hyderabadis came through the beachhead to their aid. For three days the Air Force pounded the enemy, softening up

the network of defences which covered the road. After this de- . luge of bombs the infantry attack that finally cut the road went in on January 28. The Hyderabadis took part of a hill near Kangaw and Balachis secured a precarious footing on another. They held on in the face of intenst shelling. Three_ • hundred Japanese shells' of all calibres came down on our positions that day in the heaviest enemy artillery concentration of the Burma campaigns. At night, forward troops were again heavily counter-at-tacked, but they held off the enemy and inflicted heavy losses. The balance-sheet of the battle for the road shows a debit to the Japanese of 2,000 killed and wounded, 16 guns., • 6,000 gallons of petrol, 60 mule carts, and vast quantities of equipment captured. On rivers down which tha enemy tried to slip to the open sea high-powered, heavily-armoured motor- " craft were destroyed.