MOVING NORTH

Waikato Times, Volume 130, Issue 21689, 27 March 1942, Page 3

MOVING NORTH

JAPANESE IN BURMA MENACE TO OILFIELDS CHINESE HOLDING ON (Official Wireless) (Received March 27, 11.30 a.m.) RUGBY, March 26 The latest Burma communique states: A large mixed enemy force is reported to be moving north of Kyangin (on the road to Prome and the Burma oilfields and 35 miles south of Prome). A similar Japanese force is reported to be in the area of Minhla-Tharrawadi. No contact has yet been made in the direction of the Pegu Yomas mountain range, separating the Irrawaddy and Sittang Rivers. The enemy is reported to be dropping isolated parachutists, presumably with the object of organising local traitors. A force of 1000 Japanese was engaged in the area of Yedash, twenty miles north of Toungoo, and heavy casualties were inflicted. Our losses were remarkably small owing to stout resistance by the units concerned, especially the Chinese expeditionary force. The enemy have side-stepped Toungoo and occupied Kyungon, twelve miles north of Toungoo. The Chinese forces in Toungoo are well dug in and will hold on until they are relieved. A Chinese expeditionary force engaged a mixed Japanese-Thai force of 800 in the area of Tuang Pakyen, south of Mongton, and forced them to withdraw, with heavy casuaHies. In the attack the Chinese captured a French offioer. Our aircraft attacked the Chiengmai airfield on March 24 in the face of heavy anti-aircraft fire. Many aircraft were observed on the ground including some bombers and transports. Approximately ten of the aircraft were completely disabled and many others were damaged. Air Force Strengthened The Chinese army spokesman said: The arrival of 150 Japanese planes on the Upper Burma front from Rangoon on March 21 preluded an enemy offensive in major force up from Pyu a day later. The spokesman confirmed that 1000 Japanese forces in the United Nations’ line have reached a point north of Toungoo. probably cutting the railway from Pyu a day later. , The spokesman described the situ- I ation as not optimistic but not serious j either. Estimating the Japanese strength in Burma at three divisions, he said j that one is operating along the j Rangoon-Mandalay railway, another | along the Rangoon-Prome railway westward, and the third is in reserve. IN THE .PHILIPPINES HEAVY AERIAL BOMBARDMENT (United Pres* Assn— Elea. Tel. Copyririt) (Received March 27, 11.30 a.m.) WASHINGTON, March 26 A War Department communique stCtes: Fortified islands at the en- j trance to Manila Bay were again I subjected to a heavy aerial bombard- j ment. Fifty-four heavy Japanese ; bombers participated in the attack, J which continued for six hours. Most j of the bombing was concentrated on j Corregidor. The damage to military installa- \ tions was slight. Our troops suf- ! fered only a few casualties. Four enemy planes were shot down by anti-aircraft artillery. On Batan there were sharp skirmishes between patrols along the entire front. I ONLY A POSE FANATICISM OF JAPANESE (United Press Asan.—Elec. Te*. copyright) j SYDNEY, March 26 | The fanaticism of the Japanese ! soldier is largely a pose, said MajorGeneral Gordon Bennett, when ad- ! dressing the Legacy Club today. j “Captured Japanese asked to be ; shot, as capture was a stigma in the j eyes of the Emperor,” he added, “but j I don’t know what would have hap- i pened if we had taken them at their j word. They forgot all about the stigma when our troops attacked them with the bayonet. They just turned and fled. “The Japanese have not the moral courage to take a grip on themselves in cases of fear. They became panicky at the noise and din of our heavy artillery and trench mortars.” If the Australians took the offensive at the beginning the Japanese would be driven into the sea. Their successes to date undoubtedly were due to their tactics. Even so, the Japanese soldier was well trained, tireless and continually on the move. His physique and endurance were above the average.

By special arrangement neuicr's World Service, In addition to other special sources I of information, is used In the compilation of the overseas intelligence published m ' mis issue, and all rights therein in au»- ' tralia and New Zealand are reserved, such ! of the cable news in this issue as is headed has appeared In the Times and is to sent to this paper by special permission It should be understood that tea opinion is not that of the Times unless tApressly stated to be so.

“REAL GHOST TOWN” PREPARATIONS AT DARWIN READY TO FACE ENEMY Darwin, stripped for action, is a real ghost town. This is the view of Mr George Folster, correspondent of the Columbia Broadcasting Corporation, who has just returned from a three weeks’ visit to the Northern Territory. Darwin itself, he says, has been almost evacuated of civilian population. “It is there Australian fighting men may soon have to face the task of defending for the first time their j own homes and shores,” Mr Folster says. “No doubt it will be a hot, tough campaign, but the general opinion is that the ultimate outcome depends on how effectively supplies can be kept flowing to this isolated outpost.” “Darwin is a town where money has no value,” said Mr David Croft, a former docker, who has returned to Sydney. “No wages are paid,” he said. “You receive meal tickets for your work. You are thus able to obtain three meals a day at a Government-controlled restaurant. All business has virtually ceased. No shops are open and all have smashed windows. The hotels are open, but they have no beer.” Mr Croft added that it was possible to buy a car for a few pence or take one of the many bicycles left in the town. He made the journey to Alice Springs in Central Australia in a railway cattle truck. Many early evacuees from Catherine, 120 miles south-east of Darwin, had left their houses open when they left, so it was easy to find a bed for the night. AMERICAN SOLDIERS WANT TO MAREY AUSTRALIANS PROBLEM FOR AUTHORITIES (United Press Assn. —Eler. Tel. copyrlrlit) SYDNEY, March 26. The problem of American soldiers wanting to marry Australian girls is engaging the attention of the authorities, who are doing their best to discourage such unions, on the ground that the girls would lose their Australian nationality or domicile, and in addition would have trouble in gaining American citizenship after the war. The spokesman for the American soldiers, alluding to the difficulties, said his men had been warned not to marry while abroad, as when the war was over all Americans would be repatriated and those who were married would not be allowed to take { their wives but would have to proI vide a separate method of travel to the United States. The wives would also have difficulty in qualifying J for domicile in America. There had I already been a number of such mar- | riages since the arrival of the ! Americans in Australia. ! SIR STAFFORD CRIPPS CONFERENCES IN INDIA GANDHI AGAINST WAR • United Press AS*n.—Elec. Tel. Conyrljrnt; LONDON, March 26 The Lord Privy Seal. Sir Stafford Cripps, who is visiting New Delhi ,to discuss with Indian leaders the | War Cabinet’s conclusions as to I India’s status, is expected to meet i the spokesman of the Indian princes i today. He will see Mr Gandhi to- | morrow. Mr Gandhi went to New ! Delhi this morning after receiving a j telegram from Sir Stafford. Replying to Sir Stafford’s invita- ! tion to meet him, Mr Gandhi said: | “You know my anti-war views. If, jin spite of them you would like to see me I shall see you.” | The president of the Indian Conj gress, Maulana Abul Kalam Azad, j and the president of the Moslem League, Mr M. A. Jinnah, met Sir | Stafford yesterday. Mr Azad looked : very grave after his interview. He ! later called a meeting of the Workl ing Committee of Congress to be held in New Delhi on April 1. i Mr Jinnah, whose interview followed that of Mr Azad, came out smiling after his talk with Sir Stafford. He stated that the proposals would be placed before the Working Committee of the Moslem League on Friday. Speaking to journalists of the British proposals, Sir Stafford Cripps said they were the best scheme on which the British War Cabinet could agree. There was no question of negotiating a fundamentally different scheme, but this one could be adapted. He thought he would have some interesting information for the press on Saturday. Sir Stafford said his meetings with Indian leaders had been extremely good. “My spirits last night,” he said, “were not lower than at breakfast. I am always in my best form at breakfast.” LORD BEAVERBROOK TALKS WITH MR ROOSEVELT • United press Assn.—Elec Te! copyntr.it, WASHINGTON, March 25 President Roosevelt dined and spent the entire evening with Lord Beaverbrook, who is spending the night at the White House. The Herald-Tribune says Mr Roosevelt's discussions with Lord Beaverbrook, also the President's conferences earlier today with military and naval leaders, centred on Australia, particularly the Australian lease-lend problem.