BURMA FIGHTING

Otago Daily Times, Issue 24828, 30 January 1942, Page 5

BURMA FIGHTING

BRITISH REINFORCED STRONG DEFENCE LINE (Rec. 9 p.m.) LONDON, Jan. 29. Over 6000 people were evacuated by sea from Burma last week. The Berlin radio quotes the Tokio announcement that the British in Burma have been considerably reinforced, and established a strong defence line on the" delta of the Irrawaddy. The Empire forces are standing firm west of the Solwen River. Twenty-five Japanese planes on Wednesday afternoon attempted to raid an aerodrome to the north of Rangoon. Ten were shot down and nine damaged. A communique issued at Rangoon states that the British forces which made contact with the Japanese forces to the east of the Salween River are battering the enemy. The running combat, now in its sixth day, will seriously impede the Japanese thrust to the south, allowing invaluable time for the much-needed Allied reinforcements to arrive. The situation on the Tenasserim front is unchanged. The enemy's drive on the Gulf of Martaban is suspended in spite of his superior numbers. Six enemy planes were destroyed over Rangoon to-day. Six were also probably destroyed and nine damaged. We lost three planes, but the pilots were saved. Blenheim bombers last night heavily raided Bangkok docks, which were largely burned out as the result of previous raids. All of our machines returned.