CHINESE DRIVE

Waikato Times, Volume 194, Issue 22353, 20 May 1944, Page 5

CHINESE DRIVE

PROGRESS IN BURMA MYITKINA THREATENED JAPANESE CASUALTIES (Received May 20, 3.15 p.m.) RUGBY, May 19. Brigadier-General Merrill’s American and Chinese tropos with airborne reinforcements from other elements of General Stillwell’s forces, attacking from the airfield yesterday, pentrated the outskirts of Myitkyina, says a South-east Asia communique. Another column of General Merrill’s “marauders” occupied the village of Nawraw Sakan and threw a road block across the Mogaung-Myitkyina read. Other troops thrust towards Myitkyina from the north. In glider operations on Wednesday we lost none killed and only one injured. The United States Army Air Force troop carrier commander, Bri-gadier-General Old, in person led the operations, piloting a plane which towed the first glider and again leading a further landing with additional engineering equipment. Other Chinese Advances

Of General Stillwell’s other forces, the Chinese 38th. Division in the Mogaung Valley and the hills to the east, has inflicted heavy casualties on the enemy in a series of encounters. The bodies of a company commander and two officers were found in one group of 40 enemy dead. Chinese troops have advanced south-west along the Tarongsang River and others have inflicted heavy casualties on the Japanese withdrawing some 14 miles north of Kamning. West of the Mogaung River the Chinese 22nd. Division has made limited gains. In the Bishenpur area a Gurkha brigade forced its way round the eastern flank of the 33rd. Japanese Division through most difficult country, and in the face of a very heavy position has thrown a road-block across the Tiddim road, south of the enemy main position.. It inflicted heavy casualties and captured much valuable equipment. An enemy counter-attack has been repulsed.

In the Kohima sector there is patrol activity. North-east of Kanglatongbi troops of the 11th. Sikh regiment drove off a series of night attacks at heavy cost to the enemy. The enemy also made abortive attacks in the Tunnoupal area. In upper Kasdan, West Africans inflicted heavy casualties on the enemy when a force estimated at three companies attacked our positions. There is nothing to report from the remainer of the Arakan front. On Wednesday and Thursday extensive air operations were carried .out by Allied planes without loss to themselves. Chinese Capture Town After preparatory bombing, shelling and strafing from the air, Chinese troops on the Burma border entered Tatangzu, 29 miles northeast of Tengyueh, early on Wednesday morning and drove the enemy battalions into the mountains, says the New York Times correspondent in Chungking. Later in the day, however, the Japanese counter-at-tacked. Fighting is going on inside the town, which was the site of Jappanese headquarters. Tatanzu is the last major obstacle in the Chinese drive to cross the mountains to Tengyueh. Tengyueh’is an important Japanese base The Chinese, who are apparently attempting to reach Tengyueh by a three-pronged movement, split their forces in the Chiaotou area aftei capturing the town. One force is driving west toward Burma, another south along the Kaolikung Mountain range, and a third, progressing south from the Burma Road, has completed the occupation of the Salween river bend.