BURMA DEFENDERS

Otago Daily Times, Issue 24836, 9 February 1942, Page 5

BURMA DEFENDERS

MAJOR BATTLE TO COME CHINESE ASSISTANCE ENEMY RAIDS ON RANGOON (Rec. 10.50 p.m.) LONDON, Feb. 8. The Rangoon correspondent of the Daily Express states that the British forces at Martaban have taken up what is understood to b« a "no retreat" stand. It is obvious that the Japanese High Command aims first at the isolation, if not the occupation, of Rangoon, and secondly at cutting the | Burma road. The most important of the Allied forces have not yet been engaged and the first big-scale battle for Burma has yet to come. A Chungking message states that the Burma authorities have approved the use of Burma rice for Chinese soldiers, which solves a troublesome problem. Hitherto the authorities feared that the Burmese would resent a diversion of foodstuffs to Chinese soldiers. As a result of the agreement, Chinese forces are now entering Burma in ever-increasing numbers and speed. The Chungking newspaper Hupao reported to-day that the Chinese authorities were rushing the transport of goods and stores from Burma. Trucks were moving day and night northward all along the road. ■/■ Japanese bombers swept over Rangoon early this morning in the heaviest night raid yet. For three hours the Japanese attacked the aerodrome, coming in waves. The city area was also attacked. It was the fourth successive night of bombing. The Tokio radio announced to-day that the Domei News Agency reported that Japanese army bombers raided Rangoon four times on Friday night, causing several fires. It is claimed that all the planes returned to their bases in spite of intense anti-aircraft fire. The radio also reported that Japanese bombers carried out a longdistance raid 'on Muntok airfield on Banks Island, off the east coast of Sumatra, hitting hangars and other facilities: Another formation raided the air base at Palembang, destroying 28 planes on the ground and in dogfights. . ''' ■ ■ - A military spokesman disclosed that in the past month the Japanese have withdrawn from the China ffont five divisions totalling 100,000 men. To compensate for the weakened position caused by the withdrawals, the Japanese are now relying on the extreme mobility of the remaining garrison troops. A network of highways and railroads has been kept in good reoair and strongly protected, and mobility enables the Japanese hurriedly" to send aid to attacked garrisons. JAPANESE ROUTED AIR FIGHTING OVER RANGOON HEAVY LOSSES IN BURMA (Rec. 9.55 p.m.) LONDON, Feb. 7. R.A.F. Hurricanes routed 24 Japan ese fighters engaged on reconnaissance over Rangoon. Three planes were destroyed. The Japanese air losses oyer Burma are at least 123, and a further 42 or 43 have probably been damaged. The Allies have lost 12 planes, and one has been damaged. ■•''.' . .■■.":. ■ •In dramatic air fitting in the precincts of Rangoon, planes of the RAF and the American Volunteei Group, flying Hurricanes and Tomahawks, attacked a formation of 30 Japanese raiders and brought down for certain 10 enemy machines, and .propably accounted for 10 others, without loss to themselves. . ... Tre British and American pilots climbed to a very high altitude and arr bushed the Japanese pilots.-who split their formations and tried, -to escape in every direction but the British and American pilots had the advantage of altitude and were .able tn keeb a ring on the Japanese tails. The victory came at daylight, after Rangoon had been pounded all, night by v;aves of enemy raiders.