FIGHTING IN BURMA

Greymouth Evening Star, 7 March 1942, Page 5

FIGHTING IN BURMA

JAP. CASUALTIES HEAVY

BRITISH TANKS IN ACTION

DEVELOPMENTS IN JAVA

LONDON, March 6. An official report from Mandalay states 'that British tank forces supporting infantry north-east of Pegu inflicted terrible losses on the Japanese during the battle for the Ran-goon-Lashio railway. Reports from Burma say that the Japanese are making little progress towards Rangoon. The position of the garrison in the last few days has not deteriorated, though it is still serious. Since the battle for the rivers began, heavy casualties have been inflicted on the Japanese, who have several times had to pause to reorganise their forces. There has been little change in the situation since Waw, on the Rangoon-Lashio railway, was set on fire by Japanese bombers. . . , A Rangoon communique received early to-day states: “On thp Sittang front, there is little change. On Wednesday our troops attacked a village in the area and captured a number of 77-millimetre guns and five-inch mortars. Considerable casualties were inflicted on the enemy. Our troops broke up Japanese supply transports. Patrol action continued throughout the night. The Royal Air Force carried out reconnaissance and patrol work. A small patrol of Royal Air Force fighters encountered a large formation oi Japanese aircraft. In spite of its numerical superiority, the Japanese formation was broken up. One Japanese bomber was shot down. Our losses were nil.” LAWLESSNESS NEAR RANGOON. RUGBY, March 6. A communique from Rangoon received early on Friday stated: — “In Rangoon, life carries on quietly, but reports are still coming to hand of brutality and lawlessness in its outlying areas. DEFENCE OF INDIA. LONDON, March 5. The Secretary of State for India (Mr. Amery) told the House of Commons to-day that a Government statement on India would be issued shortly. , T The Lord Privy Seal and Leader of the House of Commons (Sir Stafford Cripps) said that members would be given the opportunity lor a debate on the statement. Replying to another question, Mr. Amery said 90,882 Indians and 3347 Ghurkas had been recruited for the Indian Army since the beginning of the war. Equipment for the troops still largely depended on Britain, though Indian production had increased. _ Air Marshal Sir Richard Pierse, who recently relinquished his appointment as Officer Commanding-in-Chief of the Bomber Command, has been appointed Commander-in-Chief of the Royal Air Force in India. CO-ORDINATION EFFORTS. (Rec. 11.30 a.m.) CHUNGKING, March 6. • Chiang Kai Shek, who has returned from India, disclosed that he held a conference with Sir A. Wavell and Sir Reginald Dorman Smith at Lashio on Tuesday, and informed them that a satisfactory decision regarding Chinese and Indian co-ordination war efforts was reached. It is officially announced at New Delhi that the technical mission is shortly arriving from the United States. The announcement added: “The military situation in south-east Asia emphasised the need for fully developing the resources of India as a supply base for the Armed Forces. The mission will report on the possibilities of such development.” STRATEGY CONFERENCE. ATTACK ON JAPAN. WASHINGTON, March 5. Mr. Roosevelt held a three hours’ conference with representatives of the British and American staffs. United States representatives included Mr. H. L. Stimson (Secretary of War), General George Marshall (Chief of the General Stall), Lieutenant-Gener-al H. H. Arnold (Chief of the Army Air Forces), Admiral E. J. isdng (Com-mander-in-Chief of the Fleet), and Admiral H. H. Stark (Chief of Naval Operations). British representatives included Field-Marshal Sir John Dill, Admiral Sir Charles Little, Air Marshal D. C. S. Evill, Lieutenant-Gen-eral Sir Colville Nemyss, and Commander Coleridge. The “New York Times” says the President called the conference to devise a new strategy because of the fear that Japan may attack Australia and India. Netherlands’ officials at Washington point out that an additional 100 aeroplanes from the Allies would have turned the tide in the Netherlands East Indies battle. They add that aeroplane shipments from the United States to the Far East have been ample in the past few days, but were very unsatisfactory earlier. They point out that only the unsatisfactory supply of aeroplanes from the Allies prevented China from taking the offensive against Japan. The “Herald-Tribune” also ascribes to Mr. Roosevelt’s conference major importance. It says the measures discussed give cause to expect an early land offensive and air attack against Japan from China. The “Herald-Tri-bune” interprets a statement by the Lieutenant-Governor-General of the Netherlands East Indies (Dr. H. van Mook) that an attack on Japan can be expected from another side as meaning tnat the Chinese Army is receiving substantial aid, with a view to establishing a crushing anti-Japanese offensive by combined Chinese, British, and American forces.

JAPS. NEAR BATAVIA. MORE TOWNS~OCCUPIED. LONDON, .March 6. Japanese troops advancing in Java are threatening Batavia from two directions, and the position of the city is serious. A Netherlands East Indies communique says the enemy is 10 miles from Batavia, and the Japanese claim to be even nearer, but there is no confirmation of that claim. Two towns between Batavia and Bandoeng have been occupied by the Japanese. The Japanese have taken Surakarta, and only 40 miles separate advance troops from the naval base of Sourabaya. These Japanese advances have been made by parties of from 300 to 400 men with light tanks, assisted by air superiority. Bandoeng had repeated air raids yesterday. The Lieutenant-GovernoryGeneral of the Netherlands East Indies (Dr. H. van Mook) repeated the Government’s intention to resist. After paying a tribute to the British American, and Australian troops, he urged his people to be tenacious and courageous, that tney might retain a ■foremost place among the nations of the world.

BATAVIA EVACUATED. (Rec. 10 a.m.) BANDOENG, March 6. A communique admits the complete evacuation of Batavia. Before the withdrawal from Batavia, the Dutch destroyed all important works, and evacuated many of the inhabitants. The Japanese now occupy all western Java and Jokjakarta in the south and central part of the island. WILL FIGHT ON. BANDOENG, March 5. Dr. van Mook declared that the Dutch would fight on. It was clear that the attack on Java had long been planned and studied by the Japanese. The fight was a race against time, and in this respect the fall of Singapore, an important event, had opened the way to tne south. “Whatever happens, we may be sure that final victory will be on our side,” he said. “This war is one big fight. Every day we hold out brings us nearer victory.” LONDON, March 6. The British Associated Press correspondent at Bandoeng says the announcement by Dr. Van Mook may be interpreted as meaning that, when the first phase of the battle of Java—that of slowing down the enemy invasion troops in the North Java Plains—will end, the main body of the Java Army will begin a determined, long-range struggle in the South Java mountain regions, while awaiting Allied actions against Japan’s supply lines, in order to relieve the pressure on Java. Dr. Van Mook gave the N.E.I. delegates an assurance of Allied support. He said: “On no account allow yourselves to be dominated by the thought that we have been left to fight alone. JAPANESE LOSSES. BANDOENG, March 6. Doctor Van Mook, in an address to the N.E.I. delegates, put the losses inflicted on the enemy by the Dutch forces as follow: — Sunk or put out of action: About fifteen cruisers, ten destroyers, forty transport ships, five tankers, and two submarines., . , „ These heavy losses, said Dr. Van Mook, did not include equally heavy losses inflicted on Japan by American and English ships, and by American, Australian, and British aircraft.

DECISIVE PHASE. LONDON, March 5. The Bandoeng correspondent of the “Daily Express” says: The Japanese have reached points 13 miles west of Batavia and 50 miles east oi Batavia. . , , , The only British correspondent now remaining in Java is Mr. Joan Findon, of the “Daily Express. He states: The decisive phase of the battle of Java may begin in a day or two. General ter Poqrten s stubborn little army has yielded more ground in the west, the centre, and the east. It is impossible to establish a regular, front at any point. DEFENCE IN MOUNTAINS. BANDOENG, March 6. On Thursday night, there was an extraordinary session ol the College of Delegates of the Netherlands East Indies Volksraad. Doctor van Mook gave a frank review of the present situation. In this he afirmed that it was the intention of Java s military leaders to concentrate their forces tor the defence of certain areas where the geographical conditions would enable the Dutch and Allied troops to resist the enemy’s superior numbers. UNSEEN ENEMIES. LONDON, March 6. “Lieutenant-General H. ter Poorten’s stubborn little army has yielded more ground in the west, centi e, and east,” says the correspondent of the “Daily Express” at Bandoeng. It is impossible for the Dutch to estab lish a regular front at any point in this war, in which the enemy has moved from tree to tree and from plantation to plantation. Dutch troops who have been in forward positions say they obtain a glimpse of the enemy if they are lucky, but usually they have . been attacked from three sides without catching a glimpse of the little yellow men with tommy-guns. The Japanese have reached points 13 miles west and 50 miles east of Batavia. AIRCRAFT LOST. LONDON, March 6. A report from Batavia states that a shipload of aircraft from Ameiica has been destroyed while off the coast of Java. FIGHTING IN ISLANDS RUGBY, March 6. It is pointed out in authoritative circles in London that although there is Tittle fresh news from Java, the Allied troops are making an extremely determined defence. It is also pointed out that although there may be no news of fighting m other islands, such as Sumatra, Borneo Timor and Celebes, it should not be inferred that no fighting is going on. Although the Japanese claim to be in control of these islands, the only speak of ports and aerodromes, but the Dutch and Allies have by no means thrown in their hands. When troops take to this type of guerrilla fighting, news is difficult to obtain as any wireless sets they possess would not have a range to give details of what is happening. QUIET IN PHILIPPINES. JAP. PLANS UPSET. RUGBY, March 6. It is believed that the Japanese plans for an immediate renewal of the offensive have been dislocated by our successes in the Subic Bay air attack, states a Washington communique, which adds: Enemy activities in the Philippines in the past 24 h6urs have been negligible. A copy of an order issued by the Japanese Army in the Philippines which reached General MacArthur’s headquarters, directs the Filipinos in occupied areas to surrender guns and blade weapons of every description, including ornamental knives and trophies. This order will deprive the Filipino of his bolo, which while sometimes used as a weapon, customarily serves as a tool. If the Filipino surrenders the bolo he will find it difficult to earn a livelihood. The order is interpreted by General MacArthur as indicating that the invaders fear resentment of the natives, which may develop into a popular uprising against the Japanese. There is nothing to report in other areas. r AIR BATTLE REPORTED.

LONDON, March 6. The Paris radio reports that there is a big air battle proceeding over Ladrone Islands (also known as the Marianne Islands), which are Japanese mandated territory, and are situated east of the Philippines, just north of Guam.