ON BURMA FRONT

Wanganui Chronicle, Volume 87, Issue 38, 16 February 1943, Page 4

ON BURMA FRONT

STRANGE WAR WAGED BRITISH AND U.S. PLANES POUNDING ENEMY (By Telegraph—rrcsft A social ion—Copyright!', (Reed. 6 p.m.) Calcutta, Feo. 13. 1 British field Runs landed on tho I Arakkan coast with the aid ol t.ie I Royal Indian Navy are incessantly pounding the Japanese covering tiio' vital part of Akyab. The guns were ] taken ashore amid a network of. creeks, rivers and streams from < warships by river craft under the i direction of army officers. Considering the smallness of the] forces engaged, the lighting along tliisj strange front is exacting heavy casual-] ties irom both sides. A Bluish lieu-J tenant caught between Japanese mor-1 tars and British artillery said the, British guns during the short time lie] was there tired 34 tons of shells on ah quarter-niile iront. d The form of trench warfare on lhA coast area and on the Ratheaauas' front has reached a stalemate, with, the enemy able to retire to the jungle or waterways and then strike again at the next opportunity, but the British command is developing an offensive with power-craft, enaoling interception ol enemy reinforcements and supplies from Akyab. Japanese planes were recently active but the Allies ar. more active.

“Royal Air Force fighter patrols attacked many objectives in Burma on.) Friday, especially in the Lower Chindwin region,” says an Indian communique. “At several places considerable damage was caused to railway] tracks, river steamers and factory buildings. Blenheims, escorted by; Hurricanes, bombed Alchaung in thei morning and Yegyanbyin in tne after- 1 , noon, and in both attacks bombs were" seen to burst right across the targetJ On Friday night our bombers attacked! railway objectives at Sagoung, near] Mandalay, and many bombs were< dropped in the target area. From/ these and other operations one of O'jL aircraft is missing. y “Our anti-aircraft gunners opened* fire on three or four enemy bombers/ over the Rathedaung area, one enemy] plane being severely damaged. A few] bombs were dropped, but only one] casualty was reported. A small forca of enemy aircraft was intercepted/ near Maungdaw, and at least one Jap-| anese aircraft was destroyed and otn-l ers badly damaged without loss to our-! selves.” “A series of sharp enemy counter-] attacks against our forward positions in the vicinity of Donbaik and Rathedaung completely failed with severe/ enemy losses,” said an earlier communique. “The Japanese have been] reinforcing their troops in this area.' In north and west Burma offensive, guerrilla attacks continue to inflicti losses on enemy patrols. In the; Chin Hills a body of Japanese troops recently attacked forward posts held: by Chin levies, who, alter about 24 hours' sharp action forced the enemy" to withdraw with relatively large enemy casualties. R.A.F. Blenheims bombed Japanese villages and lighters damaged railway and other transportAll our planes returned.” *

American Air Force Active. .] At a Press conference at New Delhi Major-General Bissell stated that last] month the 10th. United States Air Force carried out 34 offensive missions in Burma. Objectives were communications, docks, shipping and railroads. From China Americans raided/ Burma and Yunnan 14 times. Referring to the visit of Field-Marshal Sir" John Dill and Lieut.-General H. H. Arnold, Major-General Bissell said:/ "We expect great results Irom th. visit. Many of our problems in thet past have not been fully understood, out it is now realised that we will receive help for their solution.” The 10th. United States Air Force/ celebrated its birthday by bombing) Rangoon and the Mytinge bridge near, Mandalay. Four formations ot bombJ ers participated. The Chinese War Minister and chief of the general staff, General Ho Yingchin, and General Yu Ta-wei, head of the Chinese ordnance department, have arrived at New Delhi by invitation from Field-Marshal Wavell to see the defences and inspect Chinese troops.