STIFFER ENEMY DEFENCE

Dominion, Volume 36, Issue 102, 25 January 1943, Page 5

STIFFER ENEMY DEFENCE

Situation In Burma (British Official Wireless.) (Received January 24, 7 p.m.) RUGBY, January 23. The joint India communique today reports that fighting continued in the Arakan district on Thursday. Our forces shelled the Japanese positions at Donbaik, oil Mayu Peninsula. On the following day Donbaik was bombed three times. Targets in the Brome district were attacked yesterday. An

aerodrome was shot up and nine lorries destroyed. Shipping on the Arakan coast was also attacked. Two of our aircraft are missing. An tigoncy correspondent reports that the Japanese have established strong positions on the Bengal Bay side of the Mayu Peninsula. The wooded nature of the country would hide an army, but large forces could not operate there without utter confusion. The correspondent says the position has hardened since his last visit just before Christmas, when the Japanese had made the sudden withdrawal in face of the powerful British advance, which carried the line to Maungdaw, Buthedaung, and well on the way to Rathedaung. Now, the enemy have been counter-attacking Temple Hill, which has been in British hands for seven (lavs. The Japanese have also shown signs of holding on grimly to Rathedaung.