VITAL POSITION TAKEN

Southland Times, Issue 25513, 6 November 1944, Page 5

VITAL POSITION TAKEN

Japanese Defences

Over-run

(8.0.W.) RUGBY, November 4. A Burma communique says that the sth Indian Division on Friday overran strong Japanese defences around a vital corner on the Tiddim-Fort White road. Survivors from these garrisons are fleeing south and east. Our troops cleared further positions astride the road and are within a mile of Kennedy peak, a main enemy stronghold. A Colombo correspondent says that the victory at this vital corner, a huge horseshoe bend in the Tiddim-Fort White road completes the destruction of the Japanese defence system based on Kennedy peak in their line of retreat towards the Chindwin river. In northern Burma British troops patrolled south of Oawlu and the Chinese were active along the Tahing river near Myothit. In the Kaladan valley West Africans are in contact with the enemy five miles north of Paletwa. Allied air operations covered attacks on airfields around Rangoon and central Burma and a heavy attack on Thursday night on the railway workshops and communications at Bangkok. . A Colombo correspondent says that the Bangkok attack was made at low-level in bright moonlight and the whole area was left a mass of flames. Super Fortresses carried'out a daylight mission on Friday against the large Malgon railway marshalling yards at Rangoon, says a 12th Air Force communique. Tire attack was made in substantial force from bases in India in co-ordination with elements of the Eastern Air Command.