BRITISH MOVE WEST

Grey River Argus, 2 May 1942, Page 5

BRITISH MOVE WEST

Chinese to Continue Fight Lashio all Ablaze LEASE-LEND SUPPLIES. NOT SECURED BY CAiPTORS. [Aust. £ N.Z. Cable Assn.) (Rec. 7.50). NEW YORK, April 30 The Chungking correspondent oi the Associated Press of America u-'vs* “Both sides .suffered high casualties in the battle for Lashio, north-east of Mandalay, on the road from Burma to Kunming (Chinan. The correspondent .acids: T in ? Chinese set tire to the Lease-Lena supplies in Lashio, which could not be sent to China before the collapse of Lashio. The spreading of the flames eventually set fire to the entire city of Lashio. LONDON, April 30.

In London to-day the situation m Burma is regarded as more grave. The Chinese High Command announced that both old and new Lashio fell on Wednesday to the Japanese, after a battle wherein both sides suffered heavy casualties. . . Earlier Chinese reports about the threat to the Burma Road said that Japanese troops had reached the suburbs of New Lashio, where the railway from Mandalay connects with the road to China. The whole of the railway was immediately threaienld'chinese spokesman said he was uncertain whether the fires in Lashio were caused by fifth columnists, bombings, or “scorched earth tactics, but the bulk of lend-lease supplies had been removed before the Japanese latest advance. • The Chinese military spokesman said that Japanese mechanised units in the Lashio area face encirclement, because they have penetrated too deeply, but he admitted . that tne strategical situation was still obscure. It is pointed out that, if the road from Mandalay to Lashio is cut, as it probably now is, the Allies may have to. retreat on two separate lines. One would be along the route from Mandalay into India, along which supplies are sent into Burma. The other would be into China from Lashio. There is a third alternative, in the metre gauge railway running north from Mandalay to Kawlin ana Myitkyima. It is not thought that the Japanese break-through to Lashio was facilitated by the recent transfer of Chinese troops from the east to the west end of the front, to help the British. Those troops had presumably come direct, from China, and had been sent to the most-threaten-ed part of the front, which was then the Irrawaddy. , ~ “The> Times” quotes Chinese sources as estimating the Japanese strength in Burma at five infantry divisions, with armoured forces. “It seems unduiy pessimistic to expect that the Japanese will find time, to complete the conquest of Burma oefore the rains, and if they do not the rains will hinder them, says “The Times.” "The Times” says: “The campaign in Burma has gone ill from the beginning, but the last 10 days have brought about a change very much for the worse.” i LONDON, April 30. There is only minor fighting on the central and western fronts. The Chinese are still engaging the Japanese around Pyawbwe, and other Chinese forces are attacking east of Taung-gyi. The only definite news from British sources about Burma is of an engagement a few miles south of Meiktila, two or three days ago, when over 100 of the enemy were killed. Between the Irrawaddy and the Sittang rivers the British have been engaged in a successful small operation. In the course of little battle 100 to 150 Japanese were killed and a number of lorries destroyed. General' Sir Harold Alexander’s small force is fighting stubboniy south and east of the Irrawaaay. An official announcement from Chungking says that Madame Chiang Kai-shek intends to visit the Burma front to assist in the distribution of comforts to / the Chinese troops.

British Fall Back TO COVER GATEWAY To INDIA. (Rec. 7.20). NEW YORK, April 30. The Chungking correspondent of the Associated Press of America says: “The British position below Mandalay is believed to have become untenable after the fall of Lashio. Therefore, General Alexander is reported to be falling back, along the Irrawaddy River, with a view to protect from new positions the gateway from Burma to India and also a recently built new supply road from India to China. An Empty Capture CHINESE TO FIGHT IT OUT. (Rec. 11.30). CHUNGKING, April 30. A Chinese Army spokesman said: “The Japanese found only an empty city when Lashio was captured. Its fell did not disrupt supply lines for the other fronts, because new lines had already been arranged by Marshal Chiang Kai Shek.” The spokesman emphasised that the Chinese forces would not attempt general withdrawal from Burma, but would, he said, fight to the last. “The Chinese' are fighting shoulder to shoulder with Allied troops,’’ he said. “We shall never evade responsibility. We admire the British troops resisting superior enemy numbers.