BURMA FRONT

Grey River Argus, 22 May 1944, Page 5

BURMA FRONT

SIEGE OF MYITKYINA By Allied Air-borne Forces [Aus. & N.Z. Press Assn.] (Rec. 6.30) LONDON, May 20. A Reuter correspondent there, reports: Troop-carriers are gliding in on Myitkyina airfield at intervals ot 15 to 20 minutes, bringing in reinforcements for Chinese and American forces who are besieging Myitkyina. Troops immediately on landing form up and march direct to the fighting front. . . An Allied communique siarea. “Brigadier-General Merrill’s American and Chinese troops, with air^° in f ® reinforcements from other elements of Lieutenant-General Stflwells forces penetrated outskirts of the 1 rawaddy town of Myitkyina oni H - dav ” Another column of Brigc-diei Merrill’s “Marauders” occupied the village of Nawraw Sakan and threw a road block across the MogaungMyitkyina road. Other tr °°PS have thrust towards Myitkyina from the north. The U.S'.A.A.F. troop .carrier commander, Gngadier-General Olds, in person, led operations, piloting the aircraft which toweo the first glider and again leading a furthei landing with additional, engineering equipment. __ SALWEEN OPERATIONS. (Rec 7 30) CHUNGKING, May 20. General Stilwell in a communique stated- American fighter-bombers on Friday bombed and strafed Japanese positions in the Salween River front. North Burma, including Changtso and Watien in Mamien Pass. Fighterbombers with a direct hit destroyed

a central span of a bridge across the Shweli River north of Tengchung. FALL OF MYITKYINA IMMINENT (Rec. 11.50) "LONDON, May 21. The Delhi radio, quoting a dispatch from the Burma front, says. Allied forces have broken unto Myitkyina town, where bitter hand to hand fighting is going on The fall of the town is imminent. It is officially .announced at Kandy that remnants of the Japanese Thirtythird Division were completely cut off from receiving supplies as tj ie result of a landslide on the Tiddim Road, 43 miles south of Imphal, caused by air bombardment. The road was the enemy’s only supply route from the south.