STRONG POSITION TAKEN UP

New Zealand Herald, Volume 79, Issue 24202, 18 February 1942, Page 7

STRONG POSITION TAKEN UP

WITHDRAWAL BY ALLIED TROOPS

HEAVY BOMBING ATTACK ON ENEMY By Telegraph—Press Association—Copyright (Received February 17. 11.40 p.m.) LONDON, February 17 A Rangoon communique states: "Our troops have withdrawn from their positions in the Shwegun Bridge and Thaton area and are now occupying more concentrated positions on the line of the Bilin River." The Bilin River area is mainly in open country. It is con- _ sidered in London that the new positions will provide a strong line for the concentration of the Allied troops. The Japanese did not interfere during the Allied withdrawal. An earlier report from the Rangoon correspondent of the Daily Express said Japanese motorised forces, tanks and infantry were pouring over the marshy rice fields on the coast in an all-out drive to capture the key railway town of Thaton. If they captured the town they would cut the railway communication between Rangoon and the Allied troops driven out of Martaban. It was officially admitted in Rangoon on Monday night that the British lines had been broken at several points. Another heavy attack has been made by British bombers on enemy positions in the Paan area an'd more Chinese troops are being brought to the front line in Burma. The voluntary evacuation of <icivilians and business houses from Rangoon has been speeded up in the past few days. Many business firms have already left the city. The battle of Burma has gained a new strategic significance with the fall of Singapore. While the American promise of reinforcements is noted in Rangoon with satisfaction, there is a tendency to point out that Washington and London have only just discovered the importance of the defence of Burma, whereas the Burmese have always suspected that the Japanese would be able to attack the country and have not made the mistake of underestimating their strength. The Burmese press has criticised' army communiques which cloak operations in obscure language.