CAMPAIGN IN BURMA

Greymouth Evening Star, 13 June 1944, Page 3

CAMPAIGN IN BURMA

DEVELOPMENTS REVIEWED JAP. MAJOR DEFEAT. > COLOMBO, June 11. “A review of the fighting on the Burma fronts has established that, by .withdrawing south of Kohima, the Japanese have admitted theAitter failure pf their objective to cut the Ben-gal-Assam railways,” says a corresjoondent of the Associated Press with the South-east Asia ( Command.. “Kohima was from the fiYst the key-point in the Assam, offensive. Progress bajyond this point would not only have .given a great impetus to trie Japanese drive, but would have endangered the lines of communication of LieutenantGeneral Stilwell’s forces operating in North Burma., As it is, the muchbattered Japanese 31st Division were hurriedly withdrawn to 1 a position approximately eight miles, as the crow files, south of Kbhima, abandoning sti ongpoints, camps, and equipment. They made what hurried demolitions were possible during the withdrawal. “We have occupied the village of Chakabama, six miles directly south-south-east of Kohima, until recently the headquarters of the 31st Division. Our forces actually advanced beyond these points on the west and east sides of the main road, but our flanks still enclose scattered elements, the elimination of which is steadily continuing. It is claimed the casualties 'in this division number 3000, of which 2800 are dead.

“Meanwhile, we are pursuing similar tactics northwards of Imphal, attacking on the flanks as well as directly along the road. No progress has been made in .the Kanglatongbi region, but some advance was made northward on either side and south of Imphal. the limit of our holding being marked by Gillave and Mingthoukhcng, a shbll-pocked area of bamboos an'd' palms, and a straddling stream. Wc- held the north bank and the Japr?c,;e f-ig south. The enemy rarely in, daytime, bur snipers nccnmmmy from the direction p rising n round westwards, whore lie is more so onpiy established. During Friday '■■■■■) •/: •■'teens of Jrmanu'.o struck our iVwmi! positions at Nmgthciukhong, :O oiacd by med.am tanks, wM?: c.usi-.ed the stream and pierced uc. imeter. British and Gurkha iroons, with tanks, strongly countered and restored position. Ning.houkhong is 20 miles south of Imphal. Later the same night the Japanese attacked from the west the village oi Potsangban, two miles nearer Impnai. The attack was repulsed. . ‘Tn the Myitkyina area Chinese forces completed the encirclement of Kamaing, at the head ol the Mogaung Valiev, and successfully resisted attempts to displace them. In the meantime Chindits increased then -occupation of the hills round Mogaung, at the lower end of the vajley, and sure on this town is now lormioabL. By the week-end Chinese and Amencan elements'had captured the nortu end of Myitkyina airfield across ut Irrawaddy. Chindits maintained J flanking " movement norlhwuit.s aeainst Waingmaw.”

enemy attacks fail "rugby, June 22. . Troops advancing from Kohima encountered Japanese assistance 2-1' miles east along the Jessami tiaclc. in the neighbourhood ot Kid line■ ■ eiclit miles south-east, and nea' . Fizmenn, says a South-east Asia' communique. “In the Imphal sectoi our advance north ol Kanglatongbi continued. Elsewhere round the plain, the enemy put m more attacks but with little success. In the Imphal —lkhrul road area, a night attack by the enemy followed heavy shelling of our positions south ot the eighteenth milestone. A counterattack restored the situation. Railway bridges were among the targets hit oy Allied aircraft in widespread attacks, from which one aircraft is missing.” JAPANESE CASUALTIES. (Rec. 11 a.m.) KANDY, June 12. Japanese casualties in Burma lust month number 7800 dead, not including those killed by General Stilwell’s Chinese and American forces and by air attacks. The total losses under the same _ headings since January 1 are 21,650. May’s total of 7800 Japanese casualties is made up from the Arakan area 1200, Imphal 3300, Kohima 2100. and North Burma by the Chindits 1180. The only instances where air casualties were included were cases! where we had close air support during attacks and subsequently gained such ground soon afterwards whereby we were unable to differentiate when counting the victims. An indication of the most recent toff of Japanese is provided in the Kamang area, in which the Chinese in one day’s fighting killed 310 Japanese. 200 of whom were caught by a skilful encircling operation.

JAPS. TAKE CHANGSHA? CHUNGKING, June 11. The official Tokio radio says Changsha has been captured. The (.Chungking correspondent of the Associated Press of America says powerfully reinforced Japanese divisions opened a northward offensive along the Hankow-Canton railway to synchronise with the drive against Changsha. Bolstered by puppet troops, the Japanese have driven 10 miles beyond Kwantung and reached Fengstun, 30 miles north of Canton, and have also captured Faheih and Tsunkfa. Major-General Chennault said the new Japanese drive has brought the China war to the greatest pitch since 1938. He added: “The Japanese have evidently begun building the west wall along the railway to protect the homeland. The design, if achieved, could prolong the Pacific War for years.” CITY ENCIRCLED. CHUNGKING, June 12. Indicating that Changsha is encircled a Chinese High Command communique .says that the Japanese are assaulting the city incessantly from all directions. The Japanese attacking from the east have reached a point only six miles from Changsha, but attempts to cross the Liuyang River directly eastwards were repulsed.