Stubborn Jap. Defence Met On Imphal Road

Northern Advocate, 22 May 1944, Page 3

Stubborn Jap. Defence Met On Imphal Road

(8.0. W., l.::0 p.m.) RUGBY. May 21. Stubborn .Japanese opposition, writes 14th Army observer, is being encountered by the 4th Corps advancing on a section of the main Imphal-Dimapur road, some miles north of imphal. This move to clear the road began on May 15.

in the initial stage, British troops carried out ;t difficult all-night march through tlv foothills west of the main road to roach a position overlooking the road behind the enemy. Simultaneously, Indian troops made it shorter encircling movement to (lie road further south, while other Indian troops, with tanks in support, made a frontal attack up the road.

By noon that day, Kanglalongbi village, on the road, was in our hands, while to the east, British and Gurkha troops were gaining a foothold on the 2000 ft. Kanglatongbi Ridge, in the face of fierce opposition.

When Scottish infantry and Gurkhas moved forward to a place tinder the rklgo in the early hours, a thunderstorm broke. Vivid' flashes.of lightning lit up the rainlashed hilltop and their objectives. Led by Pipers

At first light, the attackers went in, up tin* precipitous spurs leading to a knifelike ridge on which the Japanese were entrenched. Above iho cheers of the Scottish troops and tin? war cries of the Gurkhas, could he heard the skirl of the pipes as Pipers Walls and McDonald led Hie rain-soaked Scotsmen into battle to the strains of a regimental march. Meanwhile, moving silently through the jungle by night, a detachment of Sikh had travelled seven miles -round tlia enemy's flank to take up a position north of the ridge. The Scotsmen encountered strong resistance on the western edge of the ridge, and tanks were called up. The position at present is that the main Japanese positions appear to he astride, tin- road a few miles north of Kanglatongl.i, although a series, ( ,f isolated strnngpoints on a ridge to the east of the road still hamper progress on the flank.

There lias been heavy fighting both, east and west of the road, involving British and Indian troops, and resulting in heavy Japanese casualties.