OBJECTIVES HIT HEAVILY

Nelson Evening Mail, Volume 79, 8 January 1944, Page 2

OBJECTIVES HIT HEAVILY

EASTERN AIR COMMAND OVER BURMA DAILY R.A.F. ATTACKS (Rec. 1.10 p.m.) Rugby, Jan. 7. In widespread raids on Tuesday and Wednesday large formations of the Eastern Air Command dropped over 130 tons of bombs on extensive oil installations at Yenangyaung, Burma. All objectives were hit heavily says a Delhi communique, fires and explosions reresulting. United States heavy bombers on Tuesday attacked Akyab and that night R.A.F. heavy bombers raided the airfield at Heho and railway yards at Prome. On Wednesday night medium bombers attacked railway yards at Nyingyan. Since the New Year R.A.F. divebombers have made daily attacks on enemy forward positions on the Mayu Peninsula. On the western slopes of the Mayu range our troops held re-cently-won positions against Japanese attacks and made a further slight advance. In northern Burma American fighters and fighter-bombers attacked the airfield at Myitkyina. During the first four days of the year fighters and fighter-bombers made extensive attacks through the Hukwang valley where American-trained Chinese troops in the Yupband gap area have driven the Japanese front to the west bank of the Chindwin river, crossed to the east bank and taken up new positions. Elsewhere in this region United States fighter-bombers destroyed or damaged over 40 railwaycars and riddled four locomotives. Both American and R.A.F. fighters have successfully shot up over 80 river craft and damaged over 40. R.A.F. divebombers and fighter-bombers maintained attacks on positions at Kalemyo and upper Chindwin areas. From the Sumprabum areas a successful ambush by our levies of a Japanese supply column is reported. Many casualties were inflicted and the column forced to turn back. No Allied aircraft is missing.