ENEMY TAKES TAVOY

New Zealand Herald, Volume 79, Issue 24178, 21 January 1942, Page 7

ENEMY TAKES TAVOY

BURMA COASTAL BASE FIGHTER PLANES MOVED IN (Reed. 8.15 p.m.) , LONDON. Jan. 19 A Rangoon communique reported that British forces had withdrawn from Tavoy, on the Burma coast across the narrow strip from Thailand, in the face of superior enemy forces. Later, it was officially stated that the Japanese had occupied the town and based fighter aeroplanes on the aerodrome. The British official wireless says the first medical relief party for Burma from abroad has left Calcutta under the leadership of an American doctor. The party includes doctors, students, and male and female nurses, and carries full equipment and supplies. It was stated in Calcutta last week that more than sufficient volunteers had come forward for the Viceroy's relief nursing party for Burma. The volunteers were mostly Anglo-Indians. The first batch had then arrived at Calcutta from Madras on their wasr to Rangoon. A cablegram yesterday said the occupation of Tavoy would provide the Japanese with another air base from which to raid Rangoon, and also with a naval base from which to attack shipping in the Andaman Sea and the Bay of Bengal. FACES STARVATION LARGEST LEPER COLONY NEW YORK, Jan. 19 The largest leper colony in the world, situated on Culion Island, in the Philippines, faces starvation because of the war. The island, with its 6000 lepers and 300 attendants, depends on the outside world for all food, mostly fish, which is provided by Chinese, who are now unable to operate. The American Leprosy Foundation has requested the Japanese Government's permission to send a cargo of rice to Culion, but so far have received no answer. GOVERNOR OF HONGKONG NEW YORK, Jan. 19 The Tokio radio announced that the Emperor Hirohito has appointed the former chief of staff of the Kwantung Army, Lieutenant-General Rensuke Tsogai, to be governor-general of Hongkong.