BURMA CAMPAIGN

Dominion, Volume 37, Issue 194, 15 May 1944, Page 5

BURMA CAMPAIGN

Review Of Progress (British Official Wireless.) RUGBY, May 14. Fourteenth Army troops holding the Palel Road, south-east of Imphal. have slightly adjusted their positions in face of an all-out Japanese attempt to gain control of the road, states Reuter’s Kandy correspondent. They are hanging grimly to the main positions, and have inflicted heavy casualties on the Japanese. Strong Japanese resistance is holding up the British advance south of Bishenpur. In northern Burma, west of Mogaung River. General Stilwell’s infan.ry, supported by artillery and tanks, and covered by dive-bombers, penetrated, on a twomile front more than a mile south of Malnkawng. on the south bank of the Ilwelon, says a communique. Artillery and aircraft were superior to the enemy’s and several Japanese anti-tank guns were destroyed. East of Mogaung River an unsuccessful enemy.attack on Manpin. 10 miles north of Arning, cost the Japanese considerable casualties, including two commanders. Our forces have surrounded Khatangkawagn, four miles north of Manpin. Chinese troops forced a passage across the stream and advanced a mile south of Aucho. In Fort Herts Valley a Party of Japanese were successfully ambushed, south of Waza. Allied troops penetrated the enemy perimeter defences at Tuangzup. North of Imphal Plain our patrols inflicted casualties on the enemy in encounters east of Kanglatonghi. There is no change in the Bishenpur sector, where fighting continues. Continuous air offensive against the enemy has been maintained. Grim Japanese resistance near Bishenr»ur has slowed down our advance, states an Indian Army observer from the Imphal sector. Fighting is fiercest near the village of Rnlhabum. south of Bishenpur. Our troops have captured the eastern and western edges of the village, but the Japanese are stoutly holding out. in other places.