JAPANESE OFFENSIVE

Greymouth Evening Star, 24 March 1944, Page 5

JAPANESE OFFENSIVE

DRIVE FROM BURMA

NO MAJOR ENGAGEMENT YET

LONDON, March 22.

The Japanese columns from Burma which have penetrated into Manipur State fcave made contact with Briiish advanced patrols, says a message from New Delhi. The Japanese are probably aiming to cut the main road near Imphal, which is the supply base for all the Allied forward troops in the Chindwin and Chin Hills sectors, but air weakness may deter them from attempting a deep penetration. Allied dive-bombers already are reported to be hammering the enemy columns, . . 4. communique from South-east Asia Command Headquarters says that operations against the Japanese troops from Burma who have crossed ihP Indian frontier into Manipur State are continuing. In the Chin Hills one Allied column is closing on a strong P-inanese position north of Tiddim. ‘ A B B.C. correspondent at 14th. Army Headquarters says that the Japanese are nowhere across the Indian frontier in strength. They are not more than six or eight miles across at cU A correspondent says that the area of operations in Burma extends alom? a 600-mile front. In the couth is the Arakan front, and above this is a no man’s land extending for 200 miles, over which patrols from both sides are operating. The line then extends northwards lor about another 200 miles. Then there is a third front in the far north of Burma where Chinese and American troops have pushed the Japanese out of the 'Hukawng Valley. It is on the central front that the Japanese are attacking and are trying to cut. off the Allied right flank and threaten its supply route North, of this area armoured forces have knocked out Japanese tanks which were trying to break through the Allied lines. Further north still, enemy raiding parties have crossed the Indian frontier into the province of Manipur. Thick jungles and hills rising to 9000 ft make it difficult for the Allies to hold a continuous defence line. No major fighting has yet occurred, but there are indications that there is a hard struggle ahead. The Tokio radio claims that Japanese troops and units of the Indian National Army have routed four Allied divisions in the Tiddim area of Burma. , rri . . The Prime Minister (General Tojo) told the Diet that the Japanese operations aimed at driviiig Allied forces from India to place the country completely in the hands of the Indians. ALLIES’ PREPARATIONS (Recd. 10.10 a.m.) LONDON, Mar. 23. Using about twenty thousand men for their offensive, the Japanese advanced six to eight miles into India. Driving north of Tiddim on the road skirting the west side of the Logtak Lake area the Japanese are about thirty miles from Imphal, says the Associated Press New Delhi correspondent. The South-east Asia Command has been expecting the Japanese offensive for several weeks having watched the enemy building up for the attack and taken well-considered measures to meet it, says the “Telegraph’s” Calcutta correspondent. The Allies have accumulated ample supplies where they are wanted.

JAPANESE ATTACKS

LONDON, March 23.

“The Japanese resistance appears to be stiffening on the coastal plain, also south of Maungdaw, in the Arakan, and in the western foothills of the Mayu Range,” states the latest Allied South-east Asia communique. “Mop-ping-up continues east of Mayu Range. Japanese forces, further east, six times attacked our positions west and south of Buthidaung. All the attacks were successfully beaten off. Operations continue against the Japanese column which has crossed the Chindwin. This is the column which is reported to have crossed the Indian frontier into Manipur. “Medium bombers, dive-bombers and fighter-bombers have heavily attacked enemy targets in Northern Burma, including troops, ammunition and petrol dumps, stores and communications.”

JAP. SHIPS SUNK

RUGBY. March 23. The Seventh United States Bomber Group recently made a round trip to near Bangkok of nearly 2400 miles, and sank a large Japanese freighter, probably destroyed four, and damaged two others, according .to a New Delhi message. BRITISH SUBMARINES' TOLL. RUGBY, March 23. Operating in difficult conditions far from their bases, His Majesty’s submarines of the Eastern Fleet are striking heavy blows at Japanese shipping elf Sumatra and Malaya Peninsula. During patrols since the beginning of the year, one Japanese cruiser of the Kirma class has been sunk, and another torpedoed. Other sinkings include an aircraft carrier of 7000 tons, a large supply ship, three of medium size, four of small, as well as several small naval craft. At least one large and one small supply ship have been damaged.