BURMA AIR ATTACKS

Gisborne Herald, Volume LXXII, Issue 21606, 8 January 1945, Page 4

BURMA AIR ATTACKS

RAILWAYS AND BRIDGES RIVER CRAFT SHOT UP HO a.m.) KANDY, Jan. 7. In northern Burma, Chinese troops occupied Manwing on the BliamoManhkaw road, reports a communique issued by the Allied Soutneast Asia Command. Fourteenth Army troops continued to advance from the bridgeheads they have established cast of the _Mu Rivei. There were many clashes in the Kabo end Yeu sectors and at Thayet Pyinzu, approximately three pules past Yeu, where the enemy is firmly entrenched. There was severe fighting. From the north the advance on made further progress. Air support was given on all sectors on the Burma front on Saturday. A communique states that fighterbombers attacked troop positions north-east of Akyab on Friday and fighters sank or damaged river craft. Strong forces of medium bombers destroyed a bridge and a locomotive and damaged much rolling stock in attacks against communications south and south-west of Mandalay. Others caused heavy damage to runways on three airfields in central Burma. Fighter-bombers hit gun positions nt Saga in and caused a large fire in a workshop and a stores area. One Allied aircraft is missing.

Major-General Wedemeyer’s headquarters in China states that although the Chinese claimed to have captured Wanting on January 3. the Japanese subsequently reoccupied this Burma Road town. The remnants of the Japanese gamson on Akyab Island arc reported to have left by an easterly route as our troops landed on the north-eastern beaches. In the Kaladan Valley them was patrol activity. Japanese artillery shelled one of our positions. In the Babo-Yeu area, our troops are consolidating their bridgehead following successful ah’ strikes. South of Kanbalu our troops continued to males progress. Chinese troops made slight progress on the Nanhkam road towards Manwing on Friday. Other units were engaged in patrol action in the Inleiwing area. Heavy bombers attacked objectives on the Burma-Siam railway on Friday. On the previous day they hit a station and sidings at Anankwin on the same line. Another formation bombed areas at Taungup. Many river craft in the Kaladan and Lemro River areas, north-east of Akyab. were hit by fighters, while fighterbombers attacked enemy positions in and around Kychaung. Medium bombers damaged two bridges near Toungeo. Fighter-bombers hit bridges at Sinthegon and Sinthe and lighters shot up river craft in the Toungeo-Prornc-Kenzdada triangle. One Allied aircraft is missing.