Cross Chindwin River

Northern Advocate, 17 March 1944, Page 3

Cross Chindwin River

(Rec.. 1.30 p.m.) LONDON, March 16. The 14th Army recently, accomplished crossings of the Chindwin River, Upper Burma, after a 100-mile march across the Naga hills which their commander said eclipsed Hannibal’s performance. A general picture of North Burma is that from east to west, north of a line drawn from Tamathi to the region of Sumprabum, the 14th Army. SinoAmerican and other Allied columns, all with offensive intentions, are confronting the Japanese. There arc also other unspecified 14th Army operations, Eastward of Tamathi, about 100 miles, much of which is hilly, separates the 14th Army front Mogaung, to which SinoAmericans are driving from the north. The initiative apparently is still Avith the Japanese in the central sector where they apparently are attempting to envelop the 14th Army’s positions in the Tkldim area. More Raids Made

On Monday night further water-borne raids were made on Japanese defences on the coastal plain south of Maungdaw. Our troops were successful in locating Japanese defences, states an Allied communique.

Further north in the area of Razabil, our troops, supported by artillery, occupied strong-points on commanding ground between Razabil and tunnels on the Maungdaw-Buthidaung road. Small bodies of enemy troops are still holding defensive positions Avest of Htindaw.

In the Chin Hills on Wednesday, our troops Avere again in contact Avith an enemy force operating on our right flank north-west of Tiddim. Japanese attacks on our positions were repulsed. In the Kabaw Valley the enemy continues to move northward. Our ' troops beat off Japanese attacks and made successful ambushes.

In North Burma the Chinese captured Tingkawk and Sakan, 12 miles south of Walawbum and Jahbum. Our forces inflicted casualties and captured supplies carried on an elephant. South of Taro, Chinese forces drove out an entrenched enemy unit and advanced four miles towards Pasu Bum. * Many Air Raids

In the Fort Hertz area our forces abandoned positions at Pinsau, near Sumprobum.

A large formation of R.A.F. and United States bombers dropped 100 tons of bombs on Japanese dumps near Victoria Lake, Rangoon area, on Tuesday night. Intercepting enemy fighters were driven off and one was damaged. At Prome, dumps were' bombed.

Operations by long-range fighters on Tuesday extended as far south as Moulmein and into Thailand. Three enemy aircraft \\ r ere claimed damaged on the ground. Targets in Southern Burma Avere attacked on Wednesday and Tuesday. On Wednesday, dive-bombers and fighterbombers maintained an offensive against targets in Arakan, Kalaean, Kayu, Chin Hills and Chindwin areas. One Allied aircraft is missing.