ASSAM BASE

Otago Daily Times, Issue 25505, 8 April 1944, Page 5

ASSAM BASE

JAPANESE PRESSURE SAVAGE BATTLES CONTINUE (Rec. 9 p!m.) LONDON, Apl. 7. Japanese pressure continues against the British base of Imphal, while an effort is being made to advance north towards Mogaumlian and Myitkyina. South-east Asia headquarters states that the Japanese continue to exert pressure north of Imphal. Successxui ambushes were laid on the roads nor in and south of Imphal and a sma ~ ~ tack against a position on the FaieiTamu road was repulsed with loss to the enemy. Among, the equipment captured on the Tiddim-Imphal road were a sword and medals of the commander of the Japanese attacking force. The Chinese driving the Japanese south in the upper Mogoung Valley captured Marangah Twang and Minloigar Twang. They are in contact witn the enemy and are advancing on Wakewng. . An Indian division which the Japanese encircled some, days ago has broken through the ring thrown round it ana has reached the Imphal Plain. Striking against. Aungban airfield m central Burma on Tuesday, an air commando force in six minutes destroyed 24 enemy aircraft on the ground, probably destroyed 24, and damaged 8. The enemy was completely surprised and not one of our aircraft was lost.’ One Japanese fighter was destroyed in air combat. Next day Aungban airfield appeared almost completely burnt out. Heavy bombers attacked the Japanese headquarters and transit at Naforn Sawarn on Tuesday night. From all these operations three Allied aircraft are missing. “The Japanese are fighting desperately in Burma to achieve their objective before the rains come in five or six weeks’ time,” says a Calcutta message. “They are being reinforced not only to replace heavy casualties, but to build up a force for a possible

thrust either at Imphal or Kohima. The fighting here is characterised by unimaginable savagery, which often reverts to lone combats in dense jungle in which all rules are abandoned and one fighter kills or gets killed. Examples of individual heroism are boundless, especially among outlying units, who are taking a great toil of the Japanese. The latest Japanese ruse is to set fire to the jungle and burn our forces alive, but with variable winds this dangerous manoeuvre often recoils on the Japanese themselves.”

“Since the beginning of April it has been obvious from Japanese broadcasts that the enemy had planned an offensive in the Chin Hills with the object of cutting off and annihilating the Seventeenth Division,” writes a fourteenth Army observer. “At that time this division was fighting its way north from Tiddam. Japanese forces moved against the Seventeenth Division at the beginning of the second week of March. For three weeks it fought its way north towards Imphal, clearing blocks as they appeared, and wiping out Japanese strongpoints. For three weeks the division had been cut off by road from Imphal. It still is, but the Japanese resistance is becoming weaker every day. “During its long fight the division has been maintained by air and kept itself intact,” the observer continued. “ Its success may be judged by the fact that it saved and evacuated 80 to 90 per cent, of its transport, its casualties being brought out by air, and not only does it claim a high percentage of the 2600 Japanese killed during the present operation, but also 2000 casualties between the retreat from Burma and the time its latest actions began.”