JAP SETBACKS

Grey River Argus, 3 May 1944, Page 5

JAP SETBACKS

BURMA FRONT

Failure jto Break a Transport Block I Aus & N.Z. Press. Assn.] (Rec. 12 35)) LONDON, May 2 An Associated Press correspondent at the Allied South-east Asia headquarters, reports: A force of two thousand Japanese who, tor \ n e fourth time, have attempted to break a road and rail block made by Chindits north of Mawlu have been decisively defeated. The road operates on a Japanese main supply route from southern Burma through Indaw to General Stilwell s Mogaung Valley front. , , _ The Japanese forces succeeded ,->n breaking through the perimeter wire in a battle which lasted for over three davs, but British forces again threw them out. An Army observer stated: At a most conservative estimate one thousand Japanese were killed, not including casualties as a result of air action. The block is like a strait-jacket, which leaves you the weaker the more you struggle. Casualties thusfar have been at least ten to one in our favour.

A British United Press correspondent describes the Japanese attack as a frenzied one. Enemy infantry, he says, raced for barbed-wire , defences before the road block. Some even tried to claw their way towards British strongpoints. British machine-gunners cut them down in great swathes, but they still came on, rushing madly in waves. One wave penetrated the outer defences, but British infantry attacKefi and threw them back. Then Cochran’s air commandos sweat down and strafed and bombed the enemy. It was a slaughter. The enemy broke and fled. Bombers went out in force next day and pounded the Japanese, who were dug In on the Mawlu side of the block.

KOHIMA BATTLE

BRITISH ATTACK PREPARED. LONDON, May 1. At Kohima the British continued their operations in difficult country against strong Japanese positions. In the Imphal area, just north of Kanglatongbi, advancing British troops encountered stiffer resistance. In the Ukpul area troops of the 16th Punjab Regiment inflicted casualties on the enemy in a successful raid. Near Bjshenpur enemy counter-at-tacks were repulsed and a block on the track west of Bishenpur was cleared. In the Kalaaan Valley our troops captured an enemy position after hand-to-hand fighting. A Reuter correspondent stated: The finishing touches are being given to our preparation for an imminent final assault against the Japanese garrison in the Kohima area. The British garrison inside Kohima has been re'.nforced'and strong Allied forces stand ready to advance along Manipur Road, north-west of Kohima. We have cut off ■ a Japanese line of withdrawal through the Zubza Valley, and Japanese further east are hard-pressed by another British attack force while other British columns are driving down from the north, to cut off the enemy’s flank defences. United States bombers in daylight dropped a large number of incendiaries on stores at Kalewa, starting several fires and causing explosions. Others attacked Kamaing, causing a very big explosion in the centre of the target. R.A.F. and I.A.F. aircraft carried out extensive operations throughout the Burma front. One Allied aircraft is missing.