BRITISH STRIKING BACK

New Zealand Herald, Volume 79, Issue 24249, 15 April 1942, Page 5

BRITISH STRIKING BACK

struggle south of main oil area

i By Telegraph—Press Association—Copyright V Mm*** 14 ' 11>86 ) LONDON, April 14 f I he ,i aPa j eSe m -j rm l, ha y e ™ ac ! e a further advance toward tfce oilfields ancra considerable battle is in progress over 35 miles of the Irrawaddy front. Stronger air support for our forces is indicated. A Burma communique states: " The enemy, after his heavy attack on our positions south-west of Taungdwingye, is now pressing on hard. Our forces further to the west are attacking . two enemy concentrations and another enemy column advancing along the main r oad fr°m Sinbaungwe. Enemy planes bombed our ; forward troops f-md villages behind the lines. The Japanese are pressing in the direction of Magwe, which js on the Irrawaddy, 20 miles south of the main oilfields. A detachment of the Royal Marines carried out a successful action on the Irrawaddy River during the withdrawal of our forces from Prome. American aircraft' in Burma haVe destroyed three large Japanese bombers near Toungoo without any loss to themselves. Asked m the House of Commons about the part taken by Indian .troops in the operations in Burma, the Secretary of State for India, Mr. S. Amery, said that obviously no detailed statement could be made, but he could say that a considerable proportion of the forces in Burma consisted of Indian Army formations and units representative of many classes The Indian Air Force was also represented, said Mr. Amery. The troops had been fighting continuously in extremely difficult circumstances from the very beginning of the Japanese invasion. From all reports both services had rendered a very good account of themselves. The Royal Indian Navy had also played a part with its light forces by protecting communications.