Rebels Capture Three More Towns in Burma

Grey River Argus, 23 February 1949, Page 5

Rebels Capture Three More Towns in Burma

Mandalay in Danger

RANGOON, February 21. Karen and Communist forces have occupied the Central Burmese towns of Pyinmana, Yamethin and Mciktila, a Government, spokesman said to-day. He said that possibly the rebels' objective was Mandelay, where a number of Karen Arniy personnel who were disarmed Carlier, are imprisoned. The Karens are reported to have used a Dakota _ plane which they seized at Meiktila, where there is a commercial airstrip, to land and capture the aerodrome at Anisakan, 30 miles north of Mandalay. The capture of Pyinmana, Yamethin and Meiktila gives the rebel forces control over more . than 200 miles of road and railway stretching from Pyu to Meiktila. Meiktila was headquarters of the North Burma Army.