“BURMA STAR” AWARD

Greymouth Evening Star, 11 May 1945, Page 4

“BURMA STAR” AWARD

MR. CHURCHILL’S MESSAGE

RUGBY, May 10. An announcement that the achievements of British forces in Burma are to be recognised by a decoration to be known as the “Burma Star, has been made by Mr. Churchill in a message to Lord Mountbatten. “I send you the most heartfelt congratulations culminating in the victory at Rangoon of your Burma campaigns,” Mr. Churchill stated. Haid fighting at Emphal during 1944 prepared the way for the brilliant opeiations conducted over the vast range of territory which have crowned the exertions of the South-east Asia Command The Prime Minister referred again to what had been decided at Quebec regarding the forces for the Far East, and how the prolongation of the European war had left Lord Mountbatten short of the forces upon which he had been counting. “In spite oi this diminution and disappointment you and your men have done all and more than your directive required. Pray convey to everyone under your command, or associated with you, the sense of admiration and gratitude felt by all at home at the splendid close of the Burma campaign. In honour of these great deeds of the South-east Asia Command, the King has commanded a special decoration, the “Burma Star,” should be struck and ribbons will be flown out to you at the earliest moment.” TWO BIG ACHIEVEMENTS RUGBY, May 10. Allied forces completed two important achievements in Burma —the opening up of Port Rangoon for supplies and the cutting off of all Japanese forces west of the RangoonMandalay railway—lo days before the expected beginning on the. monsoon season, which will restrict a J military operations for the next four months, says a Rangoon correspondent. The first deep-water ships have now sailed up the mine-swept Rangoon River to the port. The Japanese, north-west of Rangoon, were trapped by the link-up oi the British and Indian troops 2< miles north of the city. The cornered enemy forces driven southward by the Fourteenth Army, thrust down the Irrawaddy Valley, and as they retreated Allied planes flew in io strafe their columns. Some Japanese troops have tried to break through the Allied lines to escape to the East. The General Commanding the British Forces has assumed the military governorship of Rangoon. He called on all the Burmese lor al! possible assistance, saymg the ish desired to restore close, cordia.. relations with all loyal Burmans. Tne formal declaration was read from the steps of Government House to a •U’oup of Burmese citizens, which included representatives of the Judiciary, police, and municipality. ADVANCE CONTINUED.

LONDON, May 10.

Troops operating in the Arakan Hills linked up with forces westward of the Irrawaddy, states a South-east Asia Command communique. Our troops are advancing down the railway from Prome, and are m contact with the enemy at a point 75 miles from Rangoon. We captured after stiff opposition, a village on the main Japanese escape route from the Irrawaddy delta area, 20 miles north-east of Pegu. Allied planes attacked Japanese positions on the escape road from Thazi to Siam. CHASING THE JAPS. (Rec. noon) BOMBAY, May 10. The main action in Burma continues along the Japanese escapeways eastward through the Shan Hills, says the Australian Associated Press special correspondent. East of Thazi. remnants of the Japanese 33rd and 31st Divisions have accelerated their movements eastwards. Further south-east of Toungoo, other Japanese forces, reacting sharply, are shelling 14th Army troops pursuing them. In Western Burma, other 14th Army troops are clearing up the Irrawaddy Delta.

CHINESE OFFENSIVE (Ree. 12.15 p.m.) - CHUNGKING, May 10. The Chinese High Command announced that a general Chinese counter-offensive has crumbled the entire Japanese drive towards Ching Kiang. In Kunming, General CNennault declared that air warfare, with a determined, well equippd Chinese aimy, could defeat the Japanese in China. The Associated Press says the Burma pipeline thus far has ’ no! carried much fuel, and Stilwell Read supplies are falling short of estimates.