BURMESE REBELS

Hawke's Bay Tribune, Volume XXI, Issue 14, 30 December 1930, Page 5

BURMESE REBELS

IN MOUNTAIN STRONGHOLDS

disloddment efforts DEFIED.

ATTACKERS’ DIFFICULT TASK.

'United Pre** Aaaoolation—By CableCopyright.)

(Received 30, 8.35 a.m.) Delhi, Dec. 29.

Ensconced in fastnesses in the Alanthaung Mountains behind five miles of impenetrable jungle, the Burma rebels have hitherto defied the efforts of strong forces of troops and police to dislodge them. They are equipped with hundreds of rifles and much ammunition and occupy a position flanked by long lines of felled trees. The Government forces, who ate planning a joint offensive to-day. will have a difficult task and the expedition is likely to last several weeks.

Rebels captured in the week-end state that their headquarters.are in the mountains and that their leader and organiser, who is a Shan chief, is named Shwekyi Lou, or Golden Crow. His avowed aim is to become king of Burma. Those captured bear tattooed regimental numbers and state that they were pressed into the rebellion. AN ORGANISED RISING. (British Official Wirele**.] (Received 30, 12.30 p.m.) Rugby, Dec. 29. The outbreak of disorder in Burma was the subject of a communication addressed yesterday by the Government of Burma to the commissioners and deputy-commissioners throughout the province. The Government states: “The facts of the outbreak are as follow: The rebels come from villages south-west of Tharrawaddy and north-east of Insein. The rising was clearly organised in advance, and started without any attempt to represent grievances. The rebels committed brutal outrages, murdering Government officers, both European and Burmese, and private persons without distinction of race or station, and looting and destroying property. They can plead no excuse either on political or economic grounds. “It is essential for the peace of loyal and law-abiding subjects that a rising of this kind be dealt with as rapidly as possible and with all the forces at the disposal of the Government Two companies, of troops, British and Indian, have already arrived at Tharrawaddy, and a battalion of Burma Rifles arrives to-day. The police have already achieved considerable success and the situation is improving daily. The Government intends to continue operations until the rebellion is ont down and law and order completely restored.”