BURMA BATTLES

New Zealand Herald, Volume 79, Issue 24277, 19 May 1942, Page 3

BURMA BATTLES

CHINESE ON ATTACK HEAVY BOMBING RAIDS TRAINS AND TRUCKS HIT LONDON, May 18 The Chinese are pushing back the Japanese along the old caravan route which runs parallel with the Burma Road. In the north-west of Burma the British troops, under General Alexander, are now regrouped west of the Chindwin River, and they have not contacted the enemy. The American Volunteer Group devastatingly raided Laokai, in IndoChina, bombing enemy trains and causing heavy losses, reports the Chungking correspondent of the Associated Press. Chinese bombers attacked Japanese troops and motortrucks on the Burma Road, inflicting heavy casualties in men and material. Chinese Relief Force Central News despatches from Kunming state that Chinese reinforcements, after fierce artillery exchanges lasting for several days, crossed the SaJween River and are now smashing ahead to the relief of their hardpressed comrades in southern Yunnan. A Chungking communique says the Chinese who are battling to prevent further Japanese penetration of Yunnan have wiped out half a column of invaders near Hung Muslm. This and other repeated counter-attacks are forcing the Japanese to retreat toward Burma, by the Burma Road. Fighting is now progressing south of Lungling. Tall Japanese Claim With reference to the Japanese claim to have captured 421 British guns, authoritative comment in London is that if the British commander had ever had 421 guns in Burma he would not have had to retreat. Yesterday the enemy bombed a towm du eastern Assam. Casualties were very 'light and the damage was negligible. It is thought that the Japanese are in Karewa, on the upner Chindwin. The Chinese are believed to be still in the region between Shwebo and Katha, on the upper Irrawaddv, which the Japanese claim to have captured. FIGHT FOR AIR BASES JAPANESE IN EAST CHINA (Reed. 9.20 p.m.) CHUNGKING, May 18 The Chinese inflicted heavy casualties on the Japanese in Chekiang Province, where approximately 10,000 Japanese launched attacks on villages south of Siaoshan and Fenghua" after crossing the Fuchun River, near Yuvang. The Japanese have powerful aerial support and their offensive is evidently aimed at occupying Chinese air bases in western and southern Chekiang. E-BOATS ENGAGED ATTACK ON MALTA DEFENCES SCORE DIRECT HIT IRted. 5.5 p.m.) LONDON, May 17 Enemy E-boats were detected off the coast of* Malta early on Sunday morning bv the coastal defences, which picked them up in their searchlights, says the British official wireless. They engaged and severely damaged one E-boat. While it was moving slowly the defences scored a direct hit which brought the E-boat to a standstill. Another E-boat was damaged in the lirst engagement —an orange flash was seen just after the remaining E-hoats passed out of the range of the searchlights. The damaged vessel was later attacked by fighter aircraft, which also shot down several enemy planes. The British fighters' score for Sundav was one bomber and four fighters destroyed, and two flying-boats and two fighters damaged. Fourteen Axis aircraft were shot down, and eight were damaged between Saturday evening and Sunday evening. One night tighter secured a record bag of three Italian bombers which he shot down in 105 minutes. AUSTRALIAN DEFENCE VOLUNTEER CORPS STRENGTH SERVICE AGAINST INVASION (Reed. 0.35 p.m.) CANBERRA, May 18 The strength of the Volunteer Defence Corps (Australia's Home Guard) has more than doubled in the last four months, said the Minister for the Army, Mr. F. M. Forde. The corps has also been substantially strengthened by the appointment of a number of full-time officers, including some with Militia Force experience, and by the return to all States of other officers who have been trained in guerilla warfare in Victoria. In the event of any attempt at an invasion of Australia the Volunteer T>efence Corps would be placed under operational and divisional army commanders. Mr. Forde said that although preference was being given to the Australian Imperial Force and the Australian Militia Force for equipment and uniforms, everything possible was I being done to speed up supplies for the I Volunteer Defence Corps, especially units serving in vulnerable areas. NEW GUINEA RAID ENEMY BOMBERS HELD OFF LONDON, May 18 Nine Japanese fighters, which attempted to attack the aerodrome and shipping at Port Moresby, in New Guinea, yesterday, were driven off. Fighters shot down one of the raiders and two more were damaged by antiaircraft fire.