GARRISONS READY

Wairarapa Times-Age, 8 April 1944, Page 31

GARRISONS READY

TO MEET JAPANESE ATTACK IN MANIPUR BIG ENEMY EFFORT EXPECTED . AT KOHIMA GALLANT FIGHT OF SEVENTEENTH DIVISION , LONDON, April 7. A correspondent in New Delhi states that the Japanese troops advancing into India are expected to make their main attack before long. It looks as if the big effort will come at Kohima, 60 miles •north of Imphal.

The point of the expected attack is 30 miles inside India and 50 miles short of the railway along which the Allies send supplies to the troops in Burma. The garrisons at Imphal and Kohima are more than ready for any attack.

For three weeks the 17th Indian Division has fought its way north toward Imphal, clearing blocks as they appeared, and wiping out Japanese strongpoints. During these three weeks I the division has been cut off by the road from Imphal, and 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. Its success may be judged by the fact that it has saved and evacuated 80 to 90 per cent of its transport. Its casualties are 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 inflicted 2000 casualties, between the retreat from Burma and the time its latest actions began.

A communique from General Stilwell states that 32 Japanese fighterbombers attacked an airfield in the south of China on Wednesday. Warhawk fighters destroyed nine and damaged six more.