FAR EAST WAR

Greymouth Evening Star, 7 April 1943, Page 5

FAR EAST WAR

BENGAL AND BURMA.

RUGBY, April 6. An Indian communique stated: R.A.F. Hurricanes yesterday intercepted more than 50 Japanese bomoers and fighters attempting to attack South-eastern Bengal, Some raiders broke away and dropped bombs on Maungdaw causing minor damage and a few casualties. The rest of the force, heading northwards was turned back by our fighters and jettisoned the bombs harmlessly, in the jungle. In many combats, at least 11 enemy aircraft were damaged, two so severely, that it is unhkelj they regained their base. . Yesterday morning, Blenheims escorted by fighters successfully bombed the air base at Meiktila. Escorting Hurricanes damaged four enemy fighters and shot down one without loss or damage to themselves. Other Blenheims attacked the railway Imo at Bongytung Gorge, South. Katha, with good results. Last night, heavy bombers successfully attacked the central railway station at Rangoon.

FAMINE IN HONAN

CHUNGKING, April 6. A. famine in the Honan Province of China is affecting approximately five million persons. It is the greatest national, disaster that has befallen the Chinese since the*' start of the war, states an official announcement, the Government’s attempts to relieve the situation have been rendered difficult because the neighbouring provinces, with the exception of Anhwei, have no food surpluses. Furthermore, the Japanese have burned -rice stocks in Anhwei that were intended for the relief of Honan.