Chinese Drive Japs Towards Burmese Border

Manawatu Times, Volume 68, Issue 56, 8 March 1943, Page 5

Chinese Drive Japs Towards Burmese Border

(Received Sunday 8.20 p.m.) CHUNGKING, March 6. The Central China News says the Chinese counter offensive is progressing in Western Yimnan on the Bank of tho Salween River and is pushing the Japanese towards Burma. The Chinese have captured many towns including Manynkai, Pangwachai and Tassutse. Other Japanese forces are retreating westward along the Kunming-Lashio railway towards Kunlung. The Chinese have recaptured Mengting. Renewed fighting in Kiangsu Province in which 400 Japanese were killed is reported in a Chungking communique. Fighting is taking place in the area of the famous Grand Canal, which runs northward through tho province of Chinkian, on the Yangtse. After the failure of their initial offensive in this sector, the Japanese last week brought up strong reinforcements and launched an attack on a large town. This has now been thrown back by the Chinese. A further local Chinese success was gained near Sunkai, in Kwangtung Province, only 15 miles from the Japanese main base at Canton. An outpost position north-west of Sunkai was attacked on Sunday and the enemy was forced to withdraw.

A joint Indian communique states: “Two formations of Blenheims escorted by Hurripanes on Friday attacked enemy-occupied villages in the Akyab area. One formation encountered a number of enemy fighters. On Friday night Wellingtons attacked railway targets scoring hits in the target area. In these and other operations at least two enemy fighters were destroyed and others damaged. One of our aircraft is missing.’ *