BIG FIGHT LOOMS

Gisborne Herald, Volume LXXII, Issue 21604, 5 January 1945, Page 3

BIG FIGHT LOOMS

PUSH TO MANDALAY JAP. DELAYING TACTICS YEU ’DROME~AIDS ALLIES (10 a.m.) KANDY, Jan. 4. While the Japanese are likely to fight a strong rearguard action for every yard of the road to Mandalay, the ever-increasing Allied superiority must inevitably continue to drive them back steadily unless they make more of their suicide stands, says the Associated Press correspondent. Even a suicide stand, however, can mean only a temporary hold-up of the Allied advance. The Japanese are doing everything they can to delay the 14th • Army’s advance as long as possible. As well as using artillery, they have been leaving delayed-action bombs behind them. The 14th Army is now busy clearing obstacles from the airfield at Yeu. The airfield will be a great help in easing supply problems. A communique issued by the Allied South-east Asia Command states:— “Allied heavy bombers yesterday damaged tracks, locomotives and rolling stock on the Bangkok-Moul-mein railway. Fighters made strong attacks on enemy troop concentrations in northern Burma. Our bridgehead in the Kabo weir area has been enlarged in the face of enemy opposition. Our troops captured positions immediately north of Kanbalu and other positions eight miles to the east. In the northern combat area, Chinese troops advanced more than a mile down the Namhkan road.”