ATTACK PENDING

New Zealand Herald, Volume 79, Issue 24195, 10 February 1942, Page 5

ATTACK PENDING

SALWEEN RIVER LINE DEFENDERS CONFIDENT GENERAL WAVELI'S VISIT (Reed. 8.50 p.m.) RANGOON, Feb. 9 There are indications at Paan, on the bank of the Sal ween River north of Moulmein, that the Japanese intend soon to launch an attack. The Japanese can be heard felling bamboos, apparently for making rafts on which to cross the river, 900 yards* wide. Our troops along the river are in good heart and are well equipped. The increasing activity of our aeroplanes substantiates the belief that the Salween line can be held,

Lieutenant-General T. J. Hutton, Commander-in-Chief in Burma, after a tour of the Sahveen front with General Sir Archibald Wavell, said: "We are in a far sounder position to halt the Japanese than we were. We are now on a sound line. General Wavell's presence has given great satisfaction and encouragement to everybody. He saw a good many officers and troops and was pleased with their bearing. Although his headquarters are in distant Java it is good that he has been able to keep a hand on our plans and watch the progress of operations." This is General Wavell's second visit to Burma. On both occasions he flew to Rangoon in an American aeroplane with an American crew. More Chinese Troops Chinese troops. have been steadily flowing into Burma in the past two months and more are en route. It is understood the Chinese are assuming entire responsibility for certain sections of the front under their own formation and commanders. Expressing satisfaction with the conduct of the Chinese troops under his command, and the excellent relations with thQ Chinese commanders, Lieut-enant-General Hutton said that more Chinese troops were coming. Marshal Chiang Kai-shek, by sending some or his best troops to Burma had proved the solidarity of the Allied front. A. Rangoon communique states that all is quiet on the Sahveen front. Three Japanese spies have been caught and shot by the police. Enemy aircraft attacked aerodrome areas north of Rangoon during Saturday night, but only slight material damage resulted and there were no casualties. Our aircraft were active in the forward area during Saturday afternoon and inflicted damage on enemy war materials. British Bombing Raid* British Blenheims, escorted by fighters of the United States volunteer group, heavilv attacked docks on the island of Kadoe, in the Sal ween, which is held by the Japanese. All the raiders returned safely to their base. According to the Tokio radio, Imperial Headquarters claims that Japanese bombers, in a mass raid on the Migaladon aerodrome in Burma, shot down 12 Allied aeroplanes. Tokio asserts that an American cruiser which was damaged in the Java Sea by Japanese aircraft was the Augusta or the Houston. . The Japanese further say that Singapore has been raided 64 times and Burma 40 times since the war began. MINISTER TO SYRIA BRITISH APPOINTMENT MAJOR-GENERAL SPEARS (Reed. 5.5 . p.m.) LONDON, Feb. 8 The King has approved the appointment of Major-General Sir Edward Louis Spears, M.P., as Minister to Syria and Lebanon, in this capacity he will also be a member of the Middle East War Council. Major-General Sppars, who served in the last war with distinction, was head of the British military mission to Paris from 1917 to 1920. He retired from the Army in the latter year and became a director of several commercial enterprises. He has represented Carlisle in the House of Commons since 1931. His wife is Mary Borden the novelist, and he himself has published a number of works, including "Liaison, 1914," and "Prelude to Victory,"