CHINDIT RAIDERS

Nelson Evening Mail, Volume 79, 18 April 1944, Page 5

CHINDIT RAIDERS

ENEMY COMMUNICATIONS WRECKED London, April 16. Wingate's Chindit raiders have wrecked and blocked a 130-mile stretch of Japan’s Burma front communications since they landed 150 miles behind the Japanese lines six weeks ago says Reuter’s correspondent in a delayed dispatch from the Chindits’ advanced headquarters in the heart of Japanese Burma. He adds that roving columns of Chindits ambushing dnemy life lines between Indaw and Myitkyina have enemy communications in a stranglehold. The Japanese have been vigorously assailing the Chindits’ positions in the past few days, but the raiders have not been forced entirely on the defensive. While repelling enemy attacks they are carrying on successful ambushes daily, shooting up lorryloads of troops. The Japanese are not repelled without hard" fighting, but the troops the enemy at present is using are not such good soldiers as those engaged in the first battle last month. The present attackers are believed to have been transferred from the coastal defences in south Burma and had not previously been in action. Some Gurkhas also had not previously been in action before they were flown to Burma, but after being shown how, they fought like veterans. Men from a Midlands regiment who fought at Tobruk were sent against a hill feature while the Gurkhas looked on. So impressed were they wilfc the Bri ish attack that they ran riot with kukris when they joined in the battle. The ensuing struggle was described as “mediaeval” in savagery. It was the kukri against the bayonet and in the end it was the Japanese who fled. PROTEST AGAINST CENSORSHIP London, April 16. As a protest against censorship, war correspondents representing the "Daily Telegraph.” “Daily Mail” and "Daily Express,” Kemsley News papers and Australian Consolidated Press, have decided to cease filing dispatches from the Indian war front for an indefinite period, says the Calcutta correspondent of the Associated Press of Great Britain. The "Daily Mail’s” correspondent, Graham Stanford, cabled his London editor: “A story on which myself and also “Daily Express” and '‘Daily Telegraph” correspondents spent five days was killed for no apparent security reasons. This is happening contantly and conditions are becoming impossible. We and also two correspondents representing the Kemsley Newspapers and Australian Consolidated Press have therefore agreed to ask our editors to demand full inquiry into all aspects of public relations and censorship delays. We have agreed not to file from this theatre until assurance is given from London of an overhaul. Repeated representations here are ineffective.” S.E. ASIA HEADQUARTERS TRANSFERRED London, April 16. Admiral Mountbatten has transferred the South-East Asia Command headquarters from New Delhi to Kandy. This, says Reuter’s Kandy correspondent. means that the command has moved from a training and supply base iu India to an operational base in Ceylon. It j. s pointed out that main South-East Asian naval bases arc situated in Ceylon. The move, therefore. brings Admiral Mountbatten in close touch with the commander—inchief of the Eastern Fleet. Unlike India Ceylon comes within the SouthEast Command, so Admiral Mountbatten may bo said to have moved into

his own territory. Ceylon is the nearest point to the South-East Asia front as a whole. ARAKAN FRONT Further details from Admiral Mountbatten’s communique now available show, in addition to the Allied clearance of the Imphal Plan, other successful operations in that area. There is good news from the Arakan front where the Allies have captured positions just west of Buthidaung. I n the Kumon Range Allied infantry completely broke Japanese flank attacks and occupied fresh positions. West of the Sumprabum-Myitkyina road heavy casualties were inflicted on the enemy who later made a strong counter-attack. South of Tiank rivev Allied troops maintained pressure. In a surprise raid on Heho airfield six planes were destroyed on the ground and one damaged in the air without loss to our force. Attacks were also made on rolling stock, river craft and barges. One Allied air.craft i s missing. The Japanese at some points at present are under eight miles as the crow flies from Imphal reports Reuter's New Delhi correspondent. The enemy is cautiously hopping forward fi om hill to hill overlooking Imphal plain. TARGETS IN INDO-CHIN A (Rec. 10.10 a.m.) London. April 17 General Stilwell's headquarters states, according to a Chungking message. that Mitchells raided targets in French Indo-China. Bridges and barracks were heavily attacked. The south span of one bridge was completely destroyed and approaches to other bridges damaged. All the planes returned. • ANDAMAN ISLANDS BOMBED New York. April 17. Tokio official radio anounccd that 12 United Slates Liberator bombers attacked Port B'-'ir in the Andnman Islands. 13av of Bengal. on Saturday. Ack-aek shot down three.