Whole Of Kohima Now In Hands Of Allies

Northern Advocate, 7 June 1944, Page 4

Whole Of Kohima Now In Hands Of Allies

(Rec. 1 p.m.) LONDON. June 6. Our troops have now captured the whole of Kohima, states a Delhi message. The enemy forces on the Kohima front on June 3 withdrew from hill positions north and east of Kohima and Naga village after receiving a terrific thrashing at the hands of the Punjabis and Gurkhas. By the sudden enemy withdrawal, operations at Kohima have entered a new phase. The enemy has relinquished all hopes of untilising. Naga as a base for attacks against the AssamBengal railway, India’s vital link with the Allied armies in North Burma and China.

Severe fighting continues south of Myitkyina, with Kamaing closely invested. North-east of Kohima our troops gained several more enemy positions and inflicted casualties. Troops in the Pafel and Tamu Road areas, with artillery and air support, captured several features. Advance On Myitkyina

An Allied force composed of Chindits, Americans and Chinese, made a further advance towards Myitkyina, chief city in northern Burma.

A South-east Asia communique, announcing this, says that heavy fighting continues for the city which has been the scene of severe battles in the past fortnight. Mamaing, on Mogaung Valley, has been more closely invested. Allied units have advanced east and southeast, of the town. The Allies also have captured features on the Imph.nlTJkhrul road and Palel-Tamu road areas.

Cu most fronts, rain which has turned roads into streams of slusn two feet deep is making the Allied troops’ task more difficult, says an agency correspondent.

Attack Near Changsha

Japanese vanguards from the north have struck within 25 miles of Changsha, says the Amalgamated Press. The* Japanese made still further landingcs on the southern shore of Tungting Lake, 50 miles north-east of Changsha, exposing Changsha to attack from the north-west, north and north-east.

The Chinese made smashing counter attacks along the front, stretching north of Tungting Lake and south of the Yangtse River. The Chinese recaptured Kingan, and also repelled enemy forces descending from Hupeh towards Changtea. The Japanese, who had pushed to the east bnnk of tthc Sungtse, were smashed, and fled eastwards in confusion.

The correspondent adds that six separate Japanese columns are battering their way slowly towards Changsha, and achieved new gains at the expense of heavy casualties.. Fighting is raging over a wide front, with American planes constantly hammering the enemy. The Chinese scored successes in Western Hupeh, but Japanese activity in that area is regarded merely as a screen for the Honan offensive.

General Hsueh Yueh, in an order of the day, declared that the fate of the nation depends upon the outcome of the present battle. I-ie exhorted the Chinese to put forth their best effort to deal the enemy a crushing blow.