FAR EAST WAR

Greymouth Evening Star, 12 April 1943, Page 6

FAR EAST WAR

CAMPAIGN IN BURMA.

RUGBY, April 10

A communique from India states that there is nothing to report from the Arakan front in Burma. Two bombing attacks were made on a Japanese occupied village at the southern end of the Mayu Peninsula. Fighters machine-gunned road transport in the Taungup area and 60 miles north-west of Taungup a cargo barge was left sinking. Lorries on the roads, some carrying troops, were attacked and 10 probably destroyed. A formation of enemy fighters which appeared over south-east Bengal was driven off by Hurricanes. There was an abortive attack by Japanese bombers on shipping in the Naf River. Two of our aircraft are missing. The Burma fighting has been described to-day by a war correspondent broadcasting from India. He said the British and Indian troops were consolidating the positions on which they fell back a few days ago. For months they had been hammering against a Japanese strongpoint astride the Mayu River. Now they have moved back. In some places they had to fight their way back, chiefly because the Japanese, considerably reinforced, were creeping up on the flank through the jungle and on the slender supply line behind them.

The correspondent said he visited the Arakan area at the same time as Field-Marshal Wavell and there was no feeling of dismay among the troops. They had killed a good many Japanese and learned a lot about jungle fighting. He added that Donbaik was no place to be caught in during the monsoon, as some 250 inches of rain fell there in a few months. He also expressed the opinion that the campaign had not been a failure. JAP. PATROL ACTIVITY 'RUGBY, April 11. An India communique states: “On the Arakan front the situation remains unchanged, east and south of Ruthidaung, and on the north-east of Mayu peninsula. Despite their heavy casualties, persistent enemy patrol activity continues on the west side of the peninsula, in the effort to prevent the consolidation of our forces taking up positions a few miles north of India. Yesterday, R.A.F. fightei’ patrols machine-gunned enemy targets on the Irrawaddy in the battle area, and near Taungup. A number of Japanese supply craft including- two river steamers, were successfully attacked. All our aircraft returned safely.” A Nev/ Delhi message says R.A.F.

Bristol Beaufighters are in action against the Japanese in Burma and already have attacked a wide variety of enemy targets. FIGHTING IN CHINA |

CFIUNGKING, April 11. In engagements raging for 10 days in south-west Shansi Province, crack Chinese troops recaptured a strategically important hill which had been, lost in hand-to-hand fighting with several thousand Japanese, supported by aeroplanes and tanks. Another height which the Japanese endeavoured to capture with more than 1000 troops changed hands seven times in one day. Finally the Chinese flag waved over the summit. Between 3000 and 4000 Japanese w r ere killed or wounded in this battle.

The Chinese attacking near Kingmen, in the Hupeh Province, killed more than 500 Japanese and took prisoners and booty. They also destroyed communication lines linking the enemy strongholds of Hanko and Kingmen, states a Chinese communique.

Fighting is again raging in Kwantung Province, near Swatow, where the Japanese are attacking.