SWIFT ADVANCES

Gisborne Herald, Volume LXXII, Issue 21607, 9 January 1945, Page 3

SWIFT ADVANCES

BRITISH IN BURMA NEAR SHWEBO & MONYWA STIFF JAP. RESISTANCE (10 a.m.) KANDY Jan. 8. British 14th Army troops who are approaching Shwebo are now only about 70 air miles from Mandalay, reports the Australian Associated Press correspondent. Shwebo is being threatened from both the northeast and north-west. The lattei force apparently comes from Yen from where the Allies made surprisingly quick advances south-east and south-west, despite stiff Japanese resistance. Their advance south-west along the Yeu-Mandalay railway brings them within 25 miles of Monywa, the biggest Japanese base on the lower Chindwin River. Meanwhile, the Japanese are still fighting hard in the Kaladan Valley area. This area is the only escape route left to the Japanese remaining in northern Burma.

After further rapid advances, British troops are closing on Shwebo, 45 miles north-west of Mandalay, and on Budalin, 20 miles north of Monywa. A communique issued by Allied South-east Asia Headquarters reports: “Leading troops in the Shwebo area are now four miles north-east of the town, and other troops are nine miles north-west. Operations to capture Budalin on the Yeu-Monywa-Manda-lay- railway, 35 rail miles south-west of Yen, are progressing. An air attack was made on Yeu by 20 Japanese aircraft. No damage is reported. “In the Kaladan Valley area, the enemy is resisting stubbornly. A Japanese night attack on our positions east of the Thayettabin-Mychaung road, 15 miles south-east of Kyauktaw, was supported by artillery. The attack was repulsed, but the enemy is still in the area.

“Chinese troops in the Tonkwa sector met determined resistance and about nine miles south of Tinkwa. Chinese units in the Namhkatn sector patrolled south of LoLwing toward the Slnveli River. Bad weather greatly reduced air operations in the last 48 hours. A considerable force of medium bombers secured excellent results in attacks on enemy troop concentrations north-east of Akyab.”