GROWING MORE BITTER

Evening Star, Issue 25425, 5 March 1945, Page 5

GROWING MORE BITTER

BATTLE OFF MANDALAY JAPANESE CONTESTING EVERY FOOT COLOMBO, March 3. The Battle of Mandalay ,is growing more bitter as the Fourteenth Army develops a' pincer movement from north and west, says an Associated Press correspondent. The Japanese are contesting every foot of the way determinedly. In the Myinmu urea they are resisting in strength, and are making desperate efforts to bold up the Twentieth Indian Division.

Supported by tanks and artillery, however, British and Indian troops have extended their bridgehead further south, and east. Here, as in Siugu, fighting is now taking place in the tall elephant grass. The Japanese like this kind of country, and mada big use of it when they were retreating through the northern jungle. The country is also difficult for the employment of tanks because of the paddy bunds—raised steps 12in to 18in high, cut out of the- sloping ground to prevent the water which is necessary (for paddy growth from flowing off. In this kind of terrain the advantages lio to a great extent with the defender.. In the northern combat area the leading Chinese troops are little mor» than six air miles from Lashio. The*' l troops pushed down the west flank of the Burma (Road. Units advancing (southwards on the eastern flank met with heavy resistance. The Japanese broke away from these units and retreated southwards. More than 12 villages have been cleared by the Chinese in the last three days.