JAP. CASUALTIES

Wanganui Chronicle, Volume 86, Issue 115, 19 May 1942, Page 5

JAP. CASUALTIES

INFLICTED BY CHINESE IN CHEKIANG PROVINCE (By Telegraph—Press Association —Copyright! (Recd. 11 p.m.) Chungking, May 18. The Chinese inflicted heavy casualties on the Japanese in the Chekiang Province, where approximately 10,000 Japanese launched attacks on villages-j south of Siaoshan and Fenghus after i crossing the Fuchun River near Yuyang. The Japanese have powerful aerial support. The Japanese offensive evidently aimed at occupying the Chinese air bases in western and southern Chekiang. TIME TO PREPARE WON FOR INDIAN ARMY London, May 17. Making a statement about the position of our forces in Burma to an Exchange Telegraph correspondent a few miles from the front, General Alexander said that the Japanese plan Io encircle the British, Indian, and Burmese troops had been conspicuously unsuccessful. Had they been trapped in Rangoon, the Japanese would have had a clear road to Mandalay and India, and that would have been appalling. The men under his command had fought gallantly and had had a tremendous task. Even now our supply problems were great. Tanks were in need of repair and wireless communications were becoming more difficult because of the necessity for replacing broken parts. The correspondent quoted General Alexander as saying that our forces have kept the Japanese from any possibility of invading India before the monsoon. The general’s words were: “We have given India five months in which to prepare, and perhaps the monsoon will give her another five months, but I don’t know if the enemy will be held by the rains, and we must be prepared for anything.” He said that he was doing everything he could for refugees from Burma. He was providing armed guards to look after them, and also food and water on routes where this was possible. General Alexander also told the correspondent that our forces were now being regrouped and that this process was going on satisfactorily. SUPPLY DIFFICULTIES (Recd. 7.5 p.m.) London. May 17. General Alexander, interviewed by the Daily Telegraph’s Calcutta correspondent, said he was pleased with the tremendous attempt to meet and supply needs, but emphasised the great difficulties between the terminus and the front.