BURMA CAMPAIGN

Greymouth Evening Star, 14 May 1945, Page 2

BURMA CAMPAIGN

JAP. ESCAPE EFFORTS

COLOMBO, May 12. Indian troops driving south along the Prome-Rangoon road are meeting strong opposition from Japanose rearguards. Groups of Japanese retiring from the north are trying to escape down the river in boats, but must run the gauntlet of British and Indian troops lying in ambush along the banks. The Japanese are evacuating many villages two or three days before 14th Army troops reach them. In eastern Burma, Allied aircraft are maintaining an unceasing vigil along the Japanese escape routes to Siam, bombing and strafing roads and railways. Japanese aircraft made one of their few appearances in Burma skies yesterday, attacking 14th Army positions, but doing little harm. An Indian Army observer stated that one-third of all British personnel captured in Burma died in prison camps within the first twelve months, and it was estimated that these deaths resulted mostly from malnutrition. The observer stated that most of the lives could have been saved had the Japanese rendered medical aid. NYAUGKASHE CAPTURED.

(Rec. 9.20 a.m.) LONDON, May 13. A South-east Asia Command communique says: On the 14th Armv front we captured Nyaugkashe, 30 miles north-east of Pegu, after strong opposition. Mopping up continues in the Irrawaddy area . and along the main road and rail axis.

CHINESE CLAIM SUCCESS,

CHUNGKING, May 13.

The Chinese High Command announces that the Chinese attacked retreating Japanese, falling on them from all sides, on the Hunan front, following the smashing of the Japanese drive against Chihkiang. The Chinese took three towns on the main Chihkiang-Paokching highway, including the important hub of Tachwapiiig. A Chinese army spokesman said the Chinese attack on the 78 miles Hunan province front was the prelude to a general Chinese counter-offensive. An American Army communique said: Paoching, the Japanese reinforcements and supply centre for the Hunan front, is a burned out city following coordinated air attacks.

A Chungking spokesman said that the north-south pincers of a broad Chinese movement were closing on a main highway about 40 miles west of Paoching, trapping large numbers of Japanese. Severe fightipg was taking place west of the Japanese bastion of Hsihsiakow, north of Laohokow. The spokesman said that 20,000 Japanese had been moved over the TientsinPikow railway south of the Great Wall in order to bolster the coastal defences against the feared American invasion. FOOCHOW~ENTERED. (Rec. 11 a.m.) CHUNGKING, May 13. The High Command announced that Chinese troops entered Foochow. Fighting is in progress. The Chinese captured an airfield south of Foochow.

The Associated Press correspondent says: The ease wherewith the Chinese apparently entered Foochow lent credence to the rumours that the Japanese had evacuated the city and had altered the strategy on the mainland to concentrate strength north of Yellow River, far north of the present scene of figh+ing