SERIOUS THREAT

Otago Daily Times, Issue 24912, 11 May 1942, Page 5

SERIOUS THREAT

THE JAPANESE REAR CHINESE ATTACK MANDALAY (Rec. 10 p.m.) CHUNGKING. May 9. A Chinese communique states that Japanese columns advancing along the Burma road north-east of Chefang have been routed by Chinese counter-attacks. One Japanese column of 1000 men was wiped out and another crushingly defeated, losing half its original strength. A later communique states that the Chinese forces which have been cut off in Burma counter-attacked from Tanggyi a.nd recaptured Maymyo, 25 miles north-east of Mandalay, thus severing the principal communication line for the Japanese column which is driving along the Burma road to Yunnan. The Japanese forces which attempted to counter-attack in the Maymyo region "are being bottled up and are facing annihilation." Another Japanese unit, numbering 500, is encircled and beleaguered by the Chinese on the Burma road north-east of Chefang. The Chinese spokesman later stated that the Chinese force which recaptured Maymyo advanced 90 miles to the north and is now fiercely attacking, and has reached the outskirts of JVlandalay and also the nearby town of Sagaing and other Burmese cities. A message, from New Delhi states that a further withdrawal of British forces from their positions in Central Burma to prearranged positions furtheaKn the north was carried out successfully, states a Burma communique. No contact was made with the enemy. Japanese planes are very active, especially over the Chindwin River area, where military objectives were divebombed and machine-gunned. Little, if any, military damage was sustained, but it is feared that civilian refugees going to India suffered. A communique from New Delhi says that the planes of the R.A.F. yesterday raided the Japanese occupied aerodrome of Magwe, in Burma. All the bombs fell on the runways and a large fire was started in what was apparently a petrol dump. A message from New Delhi states that Akyab is probably in Japanese hands. It was probably undefended. United States heavy bombers agair? raided the Rangoon area early yesterday morning and started many fires. The British United Press correspondent at Kunming reports that American volunteer planes smashed a Japanese column attempting to cross the Salween River on Friday, thus temporarily removing the invasion danger threatening the Chinese Province of Southern Yunnan.

The Tokio radio states that the Japanese have occupied Myitkyina, at the. northern terminus of the Rangoon railway. No fighting is taking place.