BURMA FIGHTING

New Zealand Herald, Volume 80, Issue 24539, 23 March 1943, Page 3

BURMA FIGHTING

CRITICAL SITUATION ! ENEMY'S STUBBORN STAND ! (Reed. 7.40 p.m.) LONDON. March 21 1 The situation north of Rathedaung 1 continues critical for the British, says Router's correspondent on the Burma front. The Paris radio broad- ( cast a Tokio report that during the ] fighting in the Arakan Valley the | Japanese captured prisoners, includ- 1 ing a British general. General Sir Archibald Wavell visited the Arakan front yesterday in order to . survey the situation resulting from the latest changes of fronts. The British United Press correspondent with the British forces in Western Burma says that, following the evacuation of Thaungdara by the British east of the Mayu River, the majority of the British troops were successfully withdrawn to Taungmeew, 16 miles north of Rathedaung. The British troops on the western side of the Mayu River are strengthening their positions after an advance to within a mile of Donbaik, which was supported by a barrage from Royal Indian Navy ships and by the Royal Air Force. Enemy Pockets in Rear The British by-passed several Japanese strategic points in order to advance to Donbaik. The Japanese dug themselves in in jungles and along the Bay of Bengal and until enemy pockets to the rear of our lines are rooted out, our position cannot be considered improved . There has been bitter fighting again on the Donbaik side of the Mayu Peninsula, says a war correspondent in a message from Calcutta. This is not an indication that large-scale operations are taking place—the number of troops involved is too small on both sides to iustify such a description. The Japanese held another determined attack launched by our forces, whose inability to make inuoh progress shows how well the enemy have dug themselves in and exploited their advantages. A soldier recently returned from operations at Rathedaung described how the Japanese fired on our men from "funk holes" even after hand grenades had been pitched into them. The enemy have a system of tunnelling which has enabled them often to remain unscathed bv grenades. Enemy Posts Bombed "No important change has taken place in the positions of our troops in the Arakan," states the Indian communique. "Yesterday the It.A.F. maintained its fighter patrols over areas between Rathedaung and Buthidaung, but no enemy aircraft were encountered. Simultaneously a medium low-level bombing attack was made on the Japan-ese-occupied village of Thaungdara. five miles north of Rathedaung. "In the Katha district a formation of Blenheims bombed Myitson yesterday morning, and last night bombs were dropped on Bhamo. Other night activity included an attack on Toungoo. Details are not yet available, but all our planes returned." POST IN MOSCOW HEAD OF MILITARY MISSION (Reed. 7.40 p.m.) LONDON, March 21 The War Office announces that Major-General Gifiard Lo Quesnc Martel, who is a tank expert, has been selected to succeed Rear-Admiral Miles as head of the military mission to Moscow. General Martcl visited Russia with Field Marshal Wavell in 19M> — MR. EDEN'S ENGAGEMENTS LONDON March J'J The British Foreign Secretary. Mr. Anthony Eden, spent the week-end in New York, where ho saw many Americans of all shades of opinion, including businessmen, labour leaders, former isolationists and Mr. Wendell Willkie. Later he is to spend several days with the United States Army and Navy. Mr. Eden will make the only public speech of his American visit on Friday It will he broadcast. Mr Eden and the British Ambassador, Viscount Halifax, are back in Washington TRAITOR EXECUTED (Reed. 7.1 U p.m.) KARACHI, March 21 The i'ir of Figaro was executed in the Hyderabad prison. The Pir was convicted of conspiring to wage war against tho King-Emperor, His followers have committed scores of murders and acts of terrorism, pillage and sabotage, including a derailment last Juno in which 22 persons were killedBRITISH DESTROYER LOST (Reed. 7.40 p.m.) LONDON, March 21 The Admiralty has announced that the British destroyer Lightning has been lost. The Lightning, 1920 tons displacement, was completed in 1910. Her main armamont was six 4.7 in. guns and eight 21in. torpedo tubes. Seven others of tho class were completed in me same year.