BURMA INVASION

Waikato Times, Volume 130, Issue 21654, 14 February 1942, Page 7

BURMA INVASION

CLAIMS BY JAPANESE MARTABAN OCCUPIED STURDY CHINESE TROOPS (United Press Assn.— Elec. T«i. copyrlg-bt) NEW DELHI, Feb. 13 Increased activity on the Salween River front in Burma has broken the temporary lull. An Indian Army observer says the Chinese forces co-operating with the Imperial troops in Burma are some of the best material outside the divisions under Chiang Kai-shek’s personal command. They are mostly from the hilly Hunan, Kwangsi and Kwangtung Provinces, and are already adapting themselves to the mountainous Burmese terrain. The Chinese are armed with rifles, bayonets, hand grenades, machineguns, trench mortars and automatic pistols, which, although mostly of foreign pattern, were manufactured in China. Many of these Chinese have fought against the Japanese and do not underrate them. A Tokio communique states that Martaban, on the western bank of the Salween River, Burma, was completely occupied on Tuesday. The Berlin radio quoted a Tokio report that the adv’ance in Burma was proceeding northward of Martaban, where Japanese reinforcements from Thailand were supplementing troops already there.

VICTIMS ALL “GENERALS”

STRANGE MILITARY INSIGNIA ENTHUSIASM OF FILIPINOS 'United Press Assn.—men. Tel. CoDirignti (Received Feb. 14, 11 a.m.) NEW YORK, Feb, 13 With a touch of grim humour, the Associated Press of America’s correspondent, Mr Clark Lee, tells in a delayed despatch today that because of the difficulty of distinguishing Japanese military insignia Filipino troops claim they have already killed several hundred Japanese generals. Japanese privates (first class) wear two stars and corporals three, but to the Filipinos two stars mean major-general and three stars lieu-tenant-general. Consequently, Filipino detachments frequently report in all seriousness the annihilation of large enemy units consisting solely of generals.

BRAVERY REWARDED

NEW ZEALAND OFFICER RESCUE OF PRISONERS (United Pi ess Asun. —Elec. Tel. ccvyrigr&t) LONDON, Feb. 12 The Distinguished Service Order has been awarded to Second-Lieu-tenant Crane, of the Royal Horse Artillery. At Sidi Rezegh on December 5 he saw a large party of infantry marching in fours toward him from the direction of Bel Hamed. He drove toward them and came under rifle and machine-gun fire. The party numbered between 500 and 600 New Zealand prisoners, marching southwest under a German escort. After reporting the encounter Lieutenant Crane volunteered to go out with two or three trucks to attempt to drive off the escort and direct the column of the New Zealanders to the British lines. He proceeded approximately three miles into No Man’s Land, accompanied by two trucks, and although heavily fired on by rifles and machine-guns, he charged directly at the column and escort. He directed the column to the British lines and himself brought in a truckload of wounded. He then returned with the only available truck, and although under heavy fire brought in six seriously wounded men. He displayed great courage and complete disregard for his own safety and was responsible for saving several hundred prisoners from captivity.

LABOUR’S DEMANDS

WAR EFFORT IN CANADA MOBILISATION OF ’WEALTH (United Press Assn.—Elec. Tel. Copyright) OTTAWA, Feb. 12 Representatives of the Trade and Labour Congress presented Mr Mackenzie King, the Canadian Prime Minister, with a memorandum voicing the unions’ recommendations regarding the labour policy of the Government, particularly asking for greater labour representation in the administration of the war industry, and demanding the mobilisation of wealth for national service and the limitation of profits and dividends. The memorandum generally approved the Government powers of control of prices and wages, but demanded modification of the legislation in order to avoid hardships following the freezing of wages.

DEFENCE OF PANAMA

OCCUPATION OF ISLANDS ANGLO-AMERICAN ACTION (United Press Assn.—Elec. Tel. Copyright) WASHINGTON, Feb. 12* British circles have disclosed that the United States troops sent to Curacao and Aruba, Dutch islands off Venezuela, are to supplement British troops who have been there many months, inferring that the Americans will eventually replace the British. It is understood that eventually American troops will garrison virtually all the United Nations’ possessions in the Western Hemisphere south of Newfoundland. This plan has met with certain resistance by the inhabitants. Some of the British possessions are concerned, although the British military authorities appreciate the advantage of being able to concentrate their forces where they can be used to the best effect instead of scattering them over the world. The American garrisoning of Curacao and Aruba will strengthen the defence of the Panama Canal.