LINE ADJUSTED

Gisborne Herald, Volume LXX, Issue 21064, 8 April 1943, Page 4

LINE ADJUSTED

BRITISH IN BURMA THREAT TO FLANK ENEMY INFILTRATION (By Telecraiih —Press Assn.—Copy right.) (British Official (10.30 a.m.) RUGBY, April 7. A communique issued by the India Command states: “On the Arakan front in Burma, the position of our troops south of Rathedaung remains unchanged. , “Unable to make further progress in that area, the enemy dug in at Taungmaw and then proceeded for several days to develop a move, against our exposed northern flank on the Mayu Peninsula. Infiltrating across the Mayu, River, south off Kwazoc, the enemy succeeded over the week-end in mounting, a direcit threat to our communications in the narrow strip between the hills and the sea north of Donbaik. To meet this-outflanking-movement, the necessary readjustments have been made to our positions in the Mayu Pcninjsula. Ini engagements here and with Japanese units operating in the hill? area and south of the Indians, otijr troops inflicted severe casualties on the enemy. Fighting continues. “Yesterday morning Royal Air Force Blenheims, escorted by fighters, bombed the enemy-occupied village? of Thinganet, five miles west of Htizwg. Bursts wdre observed 1 in the centre of the target area. “In the afternoon, our .fighters, machine-gunned enemy position?. 'Last night bombs wer.e dropped, on the Japanese aerodrome at Pajcokkii.. on tire frrawa'ddy River, south-west of Mandalay. All our aircraft returned safely. ... .. .. , “Yesterday afternoon a formation 'of enemv bombers, escorted by, fighters, aftackpd ~an a,prodrome, ip koiith-eastpfn' Bengal.., Slight damage .was caused and some casualties are reported.” A statement, from New Delhi, says that the' latest readjustments, to ouf positions,, in the Mayu area were necessitated by difficulties of.supply and communications. To ftiaintajn our .positions it was ne,pessary thajt there should b,q. a considerable nuihfber of troops which could not be mairt;tained during the rainy'season. The enemy move was strongly contested by our naval craft but, despite 'losses, the enemy succeeded .in infiltrating in small, parties. Heavy' castaalties wer.e inflicted,oh the enemy- The enemy gathered considerable land anp air forces, bpt succeeded only, in taking an area which, anyhow,, would have been untenable during the rainy season. He' rpay try to' gain a further local success before tjie rainy season.