ENEMY SURPRISED IN BURMA

Dominion, Volume 37, Issue 198, 19 May 1944, Page 5

ENEMY SURPRISED IN BURMA

Myitkyina Airfield Captured TOWN MAY FALL SOON LONDON. May 18. In northern Burma, American and Chinese forces have captured the Japanese airfield at Myitkyina, the main communications town for all Japanese operations in this area. The Japanese were taken by surprise, and put up little resistance. A steady hail of lire from the airfield was soon turned on the town, the fall of which is believed to lie imminent. Chinese troops driving from Yunnan across the Burma border have reached llupan, 70 miles north-east of Lasliio, the southern terminus of the Burma Road, and are continuing to advance, says a Chungking communique. At the other end of the Salween front the Chinese have crossed the Mamien Pass and captured Chiato, 33 miles north-

east of Teng Chung, while other Chinese units are closing the trap ou the fiercelyresisting Japanese at Tatang-tzu, four miles west of the Salween. The United States Air Force has carried out numerous sorties, in the course of which 10 Japanese armoured cars were destroyed and 500 Japanese killed. A South-east Asia communique reports that the Japanese north, of Kanglatongbi put up strong opposition at the roadblocks. The enemy is still clinging to the south-east corner of iPotsangbain village, where the Allies killed 300 Japanese. There is nothing to report east and south of the Imphal Plain.