BRITISH FORCES IN BURMA

Southland Times, Issue 25670, 12 May 1945, Page 5

BRITISH FORCES IN BURMA

Deeds Recognized By Award Of Medal

(8.0.W.) RUGBY, May 10. An announcement that the achievements of the British forces in Burma are to be recognized by a decoration to be known as the “Burma Star” has been made by Mr Churchill in a message to Admiral Lord Louis Mountbatten, the Supreme Commander in South-east Asia.

“I send you most heartfelt congratulations, culminating in the victory at Rangoon, on your Burma campaigns,” Mr Churchill stated. “Hard fighting at Emphal during 1944 prepared the way for the brilliant operations, conducted over a vast range of territory, which have crowned the exertions of Southeast Asia Command.” The Prime Minister referred again to what had been decided at Quebec regarding forces for the Far East and how the prolongation of the European War had left Admiral Mountbatten short of the forces upon which he had been counting. “In spite of this diminution and disappointment, you and your men have done all and more than your directive required. Pray convey to everyone under your command or associated with you the sense of admiration and gratitude felt by all at home at the splendid close to the Burma campaign. In honour of these great deeds of the South-east Asia Command the King has commanded that a special decoration, the Burma Star, should be struck and the ribbons will be flown out to you at the earliest moment.” The Allied forces have completed two important achievements in Burma —the opening up of the port of Rangoon for supplies and the cutting off of all Japanese forces west of the Rangoon-Mandalay railway—ten days before the expected beginning of the monsoon season which will restrict ail military operations for the next four months, says a Rangoon correspondent. The first deep-water ships have now sailed up the swept Rangoon River to the port.