SOUTH E. ASIA COMMAND

Greymouth Evening Star, 22 November 1943, Page 5

SOUTH E. ASIA COMMAND

BOMBINGS IN BURMA

RUGBY, November 19.

Lord Louis - Mountbatten to-day took over the supreme command in the South-east Asia command. In his first communique, he reports a week of vigorous air offensive in Burma, in which British and American bombers and lighters maintained . a steady drive against Japanese airfields, supplv dumps, and road, rail, and river craft. Particular attention, was paid railways in central Burma above and below‘Mandalay. American, heavy bombers attacked a . target hallway to Rangoon, and Wellingtons and Liberators went for airfields. Other formations attacked railways running north from Mandalay towards the Chinese frontier. The Royal Air Force attacked Japanese targets on the Arakan front and raided an enemy position in the Chin hills, east of the Indian frontier. The relationship of Lord Louis Mountbatten’s new South-east Asia command with the Government ol India has been explained by General Claude Auehinleck, Commander-in-; Chief, India, says a New Delhi message. General. Auehinleck said the command would apply to him for units of the Indian Army to be placed at its disposal. Their situation would be the same as that of Indian troops in the Middle East and other theatres. On financial aspects. General Auchinleck said the High Command would place demands before the Government. which would consider the financial and economic conditions and decide whether to arrange provisions from India or other sources.

FIGHTING IN CHINA.

CHUNGKING, Nov. 21

The Chinese High Command announced the bitterest fighting for the past five years south of Ichang. Four thousand out of eight thousand attacking Japanese were killed in a battle,' which is continuing. The enemy has seized Tzali ninety miles south of Ichang. The Japanese are using waves of planes. General Stillwell in a communique reports that U.S. fighter planes have continued to support Chinese ground forces in the Tungting and Salween areas. Simultaneously, they attacked two villages, which were set afire. Aircraft also intercepted Japanese cavalry crossing the river near Slnbsien. killing sixty men.