ENEMY REPULSED

Wanganui Chronicle, Volume 88, Issue 96, 24 April 1944, Page 5

ENEMY REPULSED

FIGHTING AT KOHIMA JAPANESE THREAT NOT YEI FULLY BROKEN. (11 p.m.) London, April 28. Fighting has died down at Kohima, at the northern Burma front, where Allied forces have repulsed a Japanese attack, which has spent itself without gaining its objective. Allied forces are consolidating their positions, and strongly hold both Imphal and Kohima. It is pointed out, however, that the Japanese threat has not yet been fully broken, and until it is there will be much heavy fighting. Recd. 8.30 p.m. London. April 22. Fierce fighting is in progress in Kohima. says Reuter’s correspondent at Admiral Lord Mountbatten’s headquarters. Enemy concentrations which were recently brought to this area are shelling strongly-defended positions. The Kohima garrison is well dug in and inflicted heavy losses against the Japanese. Allied spearheads on April 18 cleared the Kohima-Dimapur Road sufficiently to enable Red Cross lorries to carry out the evacuation of all Allied wounded from Kohima. The garrison is very short of water, which is rationed at a pint daily for all purposes. The men are depending on material dropped by parachute for other supplies. Commenting on protests by five war correspondents against the censorship, an official statement from Admiral Lord Mountabften’s headquarters says: “The stories in question were refered to officers of high rank, who decided that they contained information which it was not desirable the enemy should know at this stage of confused, bitter fighting. Fuller facts can be made known when the battle is decided. Meanwhile it is felt the success of these operations might be jeopardised by publication of these reports at present. The South-east Asia Command made every effort to provide facilities for correspondent to report the war on the Burma front. The only censorship imposed is that dictated by military needs.”