ENTERED ASSAM

Auckland Star, Volume LXXIII, Issue 126, 30 May 1942, Page 7

ENTERED ASSAM

JAPANESE CLAIM

Monsoon Transforms Roads

Into Quagmires

United Press Association.—Copyright. Ree. 11 a.m. LONDON, May 29,

Rome radio re-quoted a Tokyo report that Japanese advance detachments have reached Chittagong, across the Burma border into Assam.

It is now IS days since there was contact between the British and Japanese forces in northern Burma. The Japanese are evidently making the biggest immediate effort against China, but British militarv opinion does not exclude the possibility of an early attack against India. The Japanese claim to have crossed from Burma into India has been officially denied in New Delhi. A military spokesman said yesterday that there was no evidence that enemy military formations were anywhere in India.

Barge traffic on the Chindwin River indicates that the Japanese are probably moving troops toward the Burma-Assam-border. Reports that Japanese patrols have already crossed the Indian frontier appear unfounded. Monsoon rains in Assam and Burma have converted the roads into quagmires, flooding a great area. A formation of Chinese troops has crossed the frontier into India from Burma. They are presumably part of Lieutenant-General Stilwell's army.

A spokesman at Chungking disclosed that after the Japanese breakthrough in Burma Lieutenant-General Stilwell stayed on for a considerable time to organise the Chinese guerillas. He could not escape by plane because a treacherous Buddhist informed the Japanese, so he started his f amous trek across the mountains and jungles to India.

Allied aircraft are continuing their raids on enemy-occupied strategic points in Burma. The latest is the day and night hammering of Rangoon. An aerodrome has been battered twice in a week and bombs caused fires visible for over 100 miles. Rangoon power station was also successfully attacked.

In the Yunnan-Burma region. Chinese recaptured many points on the outskirts of Tengyueh, upon which the Chinese were converging. Heavy fighting continues both in Yunnan and Burma.

General Alexander has issued a special order of the day: "My command of the forces in Burma has ended with the withdrawal of the army from Burma. Our task was carried out with little or no air support. The struggle has been hard and critical. Your task was to delay the Japanese so that the defences of India could be reinforced and organised. This you have most successfully and most gallantly accomplished, in spite of all difficulties. I thank you for the great work you have done and for the fortitude with which you have borne losses and hardships."

INDIA'S DIFFICULTIES ALLIED ARBITRATION SOUGHT BOMBAY, May 29. The Maharajah of Indore, in an opt!* letter to President Roosevelt, suggested that the United States. China and the Soviet Union arbitrate between Britain and India. "The United States is in a unique and strong position to help India now and after the war. Speak the word and you will transform the people of India into an irresistible army ready to sacrifice everything for their country and for the wider cause of freedom."