BATTLE FOR BURMA

Grey River Argus, 5 February 1942, Page 5

BATTLE FOR BURMA

FIFTY MILE FRONT Big Enemy Convoy Sighted [Aust. & N.Z. Cable Assn.] ' LONDON, February 3A special correspondent says that the battle for Burma has begun. Two hundred miles of difficult terrain, crossed bv wide rivers, mountain ranges, and other natural eustacies, and defended by an unknown strength of British forces, ne between the Japanese and their main objective. Rangoon. The Chinese Army spokesman revealed that a huge Japanese convoy of 69 ships, comprising_4l warships and transports, carrying an entire division, was sighted steaming out of Formosa Strait. He said that the Japanese were making tnorough preparations for a drive into Burma from northern Thailand. -The. Japanese would concentrate at Chiengmai

The battle for Burma has been joined over a 4ifty-mil e front, from the mouth of the Salween River tu Paan, which is forty miles due north of Moulmein. The Japanese are still trying to bridge the Salween over the numerous small islands and mudflats dotting 'the estuary.., The Japanese are attempting to land on Biluvvun Island, from small craft, but so far without success. British bombers and fighters are harassing 'the Japanese along the Salween, and on the islands. Burmese troops for the first time for half a century are participating in war. They went into action m the withdrawal from Tenasserim. winning 'the highest praise rrom their British officers.

The gun emplacement from which Martaban was shelled, was knocked out.

The British are guarding against landings all round the southern and south-western coasts. The Chinese Government, spokesman said that Chinese troops in Burma. wouid soon contact with the Japanese.

Mr. Churchill has sent a message to the Governor of Burma (Sir Reginald Dorman-Smith), in which he compared the brilliant victories of the British and American airmen fighting over Rangoon with the defence put up in the Battle of Britain.

“Against this sombre background in the Far East.” stated Mr. Churchill, “stand out the brilliant exploits of the American volunteer grotm

thn Royal Air Force and the British pilots in the defence or Rangoon, which is vital not only to Burma but to our Chinese allies. The victories they have won in the air over the paddy fields of Burma may he comparable to the brilliant, victories won in the Battle ot Britain over the orchards and hop fields of Kent. “To all those in conflict—Burmese, Indians, Chinese, and Europeans—l gladly and gratefully pay tribute ”

American pilots, members of the volunteer group in Burma, were presented with gifts and souvenirs by repesentatives of the Chinese Government as a mark of appreciation of their services in the defence of Rangoon and the Burma Road. The group has destroyed more man 100 aeroplanes. DEVASTATING AIR RAID [Aust. & N.Z. Cable Assn.] (Rec. 11.30) RANGOON, Feb. 4. British and American bomber and fighter planes .to-day devastatingly attacked Japanese invasion forces at the mouth of the Salween River, north-east of Moulmein. All the planes returned unscathed. JAP TRANSPORTS SUNK. LONDON, February 3. A communique to-day from General Wavell’s headquarters says that yesterday, American aeroplanes attacked Japanese shipping off Balik Papan, on Macassar Strait. Two transports were sunk, and another was probably sunk. FIRST NIGHT RAID ON RANGOON. (Rec. 12.55) RANGOON, Feb. 4. The Japanese staged their first night raid on this city on Tuesday. It lasted for half an hour. The target apparently was the big local market of Eastern Rangoon. There were a small number of casualties. BOMBAY'S A.R.P. BOMBAY, February 3. Symptomatic of the new and more realistic attitude about the Japanese menace, is the decision by the Congress Party Bombay Municipal Corporation, which hitherto had refused to co-operate with the A.R.P. to hasten the protection of municipal schools. Mr Nehru and a few are still maintaining that Ai.R.P. should be left to the Government.