KOHIMA RIDGE TAKEN

Grey River Argus, 18 May 1944, Page 5

KOHIMA RIDGE TAKEN

BY BRITISH FORCES Enemy Threat to Bishenpur [Aus. & N.Z. Press. Assn.] LONDON, May 16. An Allied communique from Southeast Asia stated: On May 14, in the Kohima area, our troops supported bv tanks, advanced from the DeputyCommissioner’s bungalow, and cleared the Japanese block at the Kohima Road junction, and reached Treasury Hill a mile further north, where they joined another force which had .advanced from the west. Our tanks' destroyed 15 bunkers, and killed 150 Japanese. In the Kohima operations, more than 300 enemy dead have been counted, in addition to those in the destroyed strongpoints. We captured four guns. North of Imphal, in the neighbourhood of Kangatonbi oqr operations are proceeding. At Kaladan, west of Labawa, ten miles west of Daletime, we repulsed another enemy attack and inflicted heavy casualties. A Reuter correspondent stated: The British dominate the whole Kohima area, as a result of the capture of Kohima Ridge after 40 days’ fierce fighting. A high-ranking officer said: The battle was the bloodiest of the Burma campaign. The enemy lost over 3,000 dead. The battlefield was strewn with bodies, making an exact count almost impossible. Our casualties were not light, and 'included a high proportion of officers. The battle developed by a grim, laborious process of blasting out starving Japanese, fighting like hunted animals from bunkers. Tanks went in, hammering against bunkers with armourpiercing shells. The only Japanese concentrations left, anywhere near Kohima are one to the north-west guarding the line against our columns advancing from the north, and the other at Maosang, 20 miles south of Kohima.

East of the Mogaung River, the Chinese continued to reduce the Japanese pockets in Warong. West of the river in the Malakawyng area the -Chinese are driving south. Patrolling and mortar duels continue in the Nansun area. At Njip, south-east of Waza our levies successfully ambushed a party of 100 Japanese. Japanese Report CAPTURE OF BISHENPUR EXPECTED. LONDON, May 16. The Tokio radio claims that the Japanese occupied two fortified positions near Bishenpur, thus surrounding 10,000 troops stationed there, and added that the fighting has reached a climax of violence, and that the fall of the town is expected in a few days. in North Burma, enemy bombers 'and fighters attacked an emergency airstrip of the Chinese and American forces in the Mogaung Valley and caused some casualties, but only slight material damage. CHINESE FORCES. ADVANCE INTO BURMA. 8.0.W. RUGBY, May 16. A Chungking communique stated: Chinese continued an’ advance west of the Salween River on Sunday and Monday, and are advancing through Nanlen Pass. The enemy is virtually encircled in one sector. Chinese occupied one enemy position. Eneniy casualties are two to one comparep with Chinese The Chinese are advancing under continued support of the 14th. Air Force. 5

Over 20,000 Chinese crossed the Salween at 12 points last Wednesday night, when the moon was covered by cloud. The Japanese were unable to put up effective resistance to the crossing. Only one Chinese was killed. Heavy fighting is proceeding 20 to 30 miles from Dungling on the “Burma Road” and in the direction of Tengchung, 40 miles north of Lungling. The Chinese crossed in boats, and rubber dinghies, and on oil drums. Additional strategic points west of the Salween River have been captured. Chinese troops reached the Shewle River and are advancing through Mamien Pass., 40 miles north-east of Tengchung. Chinese units further south have virtually encircled a considerable number of Japanese in the vicinity of Tatangtzu. 29 miles north■east of Tengchung, and also occupied Hongmoshu, 21 miles each of fiengchung and Pingka, 24 miles southeast of the Japanese base of Lungling. , T American Mitchells bombed Lungling and Tengchung while Liberators and Warhawks are pounding the Japanese supply lines. The Chinese are using American artillery flown from China. Some 80 miles of mountainous country separates them from the Allied' forces north of Myitkyina.