AIR OFFENSIVE

Auckland Star, Volume LXXIII, Issue 121, 25 May 1942, Page 5

AIR OFFENSIVE

ON JAPS. IN BURMA

British Regiments Complete

Evacuation

United Press Association.—Copyright. Rec. 1 p.m. LONDON, May 24. ~.P e R-A:F. has given the Japanese little rest in Chindwin River Magwe and Akyab areas. Magwe has been bombed six times in 15 days and Akyab five times in one week. The United States Army Air Corps has concentrated on the Rangoon docks and the Mingaladon airport. The Japanese have been using night fighters in an attempt to counter these attacks, but have had no success.

New Zealanders, as well as Australians, are taking part in the incessant raids being made by the R.A.F. and the United States Army Air Corps on Japanese troops, air ports, transports and river craft In Burma, writes the Sydney Morning Herald's war correspondent.

More details are known of the remarkable part played by American, British and Chinese aeroplanes in the evacuation of Burma. In three weeks during April they brought 8616 persons to safety. In nine days one squadron of the Royal Air Force alone dropped 44 tons of food and supplies for hard-pressed troops and refugees.

A New Delhi communique quoted by British Official Wireless states that Blenheim bombers attacked the Akyab aerodrome again yesterday and bombs were seen to burst on runways. Four enemy bombers attacked one Blenheim and in this fight one enemy fighter was shot down into the sea. A low-level bombing attack was also made on enemy river craft in Mayu River, one steamer receiving a direct hit. All our aircraft returned.

Burma Campaign Ended

The Burma campaign has now virtually concluded, and the British fighting withdrawal—described by a high officer who took part in the middle part of the campaign as one of the finest military feats of the war —has probably by now brought the British forces to the frontier of India, says the British official wireless.

As it was impossible to reinforce the small British force in Burma after Japan gained sea control of the Bay of Bengal, it has always been clear that if the Japanese put enough men and material into Burma—and her lines of communication were relatively easy—the British and Chinese would have to fall back.

Since their numerical inferiority prevented the Allied forces from holding the Japanese, there were two objectives to be fought for—firstly, the destruction of as many Japanese and as much of their material as possible; secondly, gaining time for improving the defence of India and south-west China. In the accomplishment of these objectives, the Allied forces have been highly successful.

Enemy Pays Dearly The Japanese advance has been contested mile by mile, and has only progressed at a high cost in casualties. Since the fall of Rangoon it has taken the Japanese two and a half months to push the Allied troops out of Burma. For obvious reasons of military strategy, no official statement has been made or is likely to be made to indicate the present whereabouts or plans of General Sir Harold Alexander and his forces. A correspondent cabling from India says that for several days the opposing forces were out of contact, possible because the Japanese were uncertain whether to involve themselves in fighting in most difficult country or to await fresh reinforcements. General Alexander's army certainly has been able to withdraw intact, and remains a complete V-jhting force. It now has at its back India's eastern army, while on its southern flank are the forces which guard Bengal. There is a feeling of supreme confidence, says the correspondent, among officers and men that the Japanese will be held and that soon it will be the turn of the Allies to attack. The mountains on the AssamBurma frontier should provide a very strong defensive line, and the heavy rains which precede the monsoons are already reported to have fallen.