BURMA BATTLES

Grey River Argus, 27 April 1942, Page 5

BURMA BATTLES

JAPANESE ADVANCE Now Very Considerable ALLIES DELAYING ACTION PRAISED. [Aust & N.Z. Cable A;sn.) CHUNGKING, April 23. A Chinese Army commnuique says: Heavily reinforced Japanese troops driving up the Salween Valley, captured Loikaw, from which the Chinese dithdrew to avoid encirclement. The Chinese fought a bitter delaying action, although outnumbered by ten to one. The Japanese have made further advances on ithe Sittang River from north of Pyinmana. The Associated Press says: The Chinese troops are mopping up the la'i'jt Japanese dinging to along the Irrawaddy River immediately below Yebnangyaung while the invaders’ main lines have been pushed back three to four miles soutnward. The Army spokesman revealed that on the eastern flank, however. General Stilwell’s Chinese were forced to retire under intensive

p;reqsui’e along the Salween River and up the road to Mandalay, where fierce fighting continues. The Japanese are making a desperate bid to reoccupy the. Irrawaddy oil town of Yeriangyuang, recaptured from them this week by Chinese and British forces. Last night’s communique indicated .that the Chinese were still holding the town, but later unofficial reports suggest (that since then the enemy has been attacking with extreme violence. On the Sittang front strong Japanese forces have launched a heavy attack on the flank of the Chinese m the Pyinmana area. Here, according to the Chungking communique, rhe Chinese resisted vigorously, destroying three enemy tanks and an armoured car, and inflicting casualties which slowed down the advance. The Chinese spokesman declared to-day that recent Japanese bombing and reconnaissance flights in eastern China were prompted by fear tnar the airfields, particularly in the unekiang and Kiangsi Provinces, might be used as bases for attacks a £ al .. Janan. The spokesman said tne Japanese admitted (that they a failed to find any planes; on any fields, and' he added: “They are stupid, those Japanese. . The area around Kweilin is.hem searched for ’Japanese airmen who escaped from two planes which were I S ( l Rec. d °B W 2sJ LONDON, April 26. It is authoritatively stated that the Japanese forces m Burma ate believed to be making three separate th Th?Chinese are now holding the Pinchaung River, winch is norifl Y°nangyaung. The British f° r “ are a httle more to the northward. There is heavy fighting on the Sfl tang front. It is going on in th. neighbourhood of Takton. On the third front, at Karenoi the Japanese appear to have macie very considerable advance fromU kaw to the neighbourhood of Taun„ pvi. Actions are taking place, east of Taunggyi, also at Hopong, we. . of Taunggvi; near Shwenyaung. At the latter point, Chinese forces reported to be successfully count... att Thi k s in a g rea, however, is considerably north of the fighting on the Sntang Front, and, if the Japane** succeed in pushing on, there willl be danger to the Chinese forces co.< munications on the Sittang River A Chungking communique reports. “On the Salw'een River Front, the Japanese mechanised units, ' actively supported by thirty or forty planes, have continued their northward ad vance, reaching the vicinity of .Hopong, 'which is ten miles east of Taunggyi The Chinese offered heavy resistance. Fierce fighting is cont!”‘Ong'th.e Sittang front, adds the Chinese communique, the Japanese have been advancing northward from Toungoo. They repeatedly attacked Pyinmana, between April iu and April 17- Our advanced units held their line, and inflicted over three thousand casualties between April. 18 and April 22. We suffered one thousand casualties. The fighting shifted south of Takton. The London “Daily Express correspondent on the Burma Front savs- “Although, through a Bntisn withdrawal at Taungdwingyi, and a Chinese withdrawal at Loikaw, the eastern stretch of the Allied line has again been rolled back, our western positions are still firmly held As the story of the battle of Burma emerges from the confusion of iungie warfare, and gradually becomes clear that British, Indian, Burmese and Chinese troops are fip-hting perhaps the most brilliant delaying Setion of the .war The Japanese were fully equipped with tanks and ’planes from the start. For five months they have been struggling mile by mile, northwards. They were challenged at every step by small columns lacking weapons and reserves, both armies have been fighting against time. The Britisn and Chinese have been winning precious weeks for General Wavell to ensure India’s defences, while the Japanese are straining to clinch thenvictories through the capture of Mandalay before tropical rains start next month. The London “Daily Express correspondent on the China-Burma Front reports: “American airmen, Without loss, destroyed an entire Japanese fighter air squadron in North Burma as it attempted to raid the allied base. The Americans destroyed fifteen and probably another five Japanese Navy Zero ’planes in two dog-fights over the mountains in the Yunnah and Shan States, in which the Japanese twice' fell into cloud hidden ambushes. LONDON, April 25. Authoritative quarters in London, commenting on a Burma communique. stating that the British have withdrawn from Taunguwingyi, point out the British had been nothing out there to cover the Chinese flank at Pvinmnr.a. Since the Chined have' now withdrawn northward®’ i't was natural that the .Br.tforces bad left Tmingdwingyi, in order to avoid encirclement This cnerat'on terminated in . a Biffish nnd Chinese synchronised with--11“ skilfully eon; & The British press generally Efer i" c 31 The latest British Burma comfhe vicinity of Shwenyaungt and Taunggyi. chunGKlN g, April 25. i J tes- lat ßecenf h reports C °iave been S f jlp d anesF r in nS their Northward San e no S fur e the? r gwund actions c” the Irrawaddy Front. Another air raid on Mandalay is reported. 1