Allied Troops Advancing in Burma

Manawatu Times, Volume 69, Issue 66, 22 March 1944, Page 5

Allied Troops Advancing in Burma

Received Tuesday, 10.30 p.m. LONDON, March 20. Chinese and American forces have smashed Japanese resistance throughout the Hukawng Valley, in Northern Buflna, says a Chinese communique issued in Chungking. During the cam paign, which lasted four months, 18oC square miles were cleared of the enemy and 4000 Japanese killed. Lord Loui3 Mountbatten issued an Order of the Day commending the Chinese and American troops under General Stilwell's command in North Burma. “Your rapid advance down the Hukawng Valley and your successes in the series of encounters with the enemy are gaining you much honour and renown. You are facing a formidable enemy in difficult country but you are out-fighting and out-manoeuvring him.” The Associated Press’s correspondent at New Delhi says that probably the largest battle fought in Burma is developing along the Chin Hills, where the Japanese sent large units across the Chindwin River. Hard fighting has been progressing for two days in the Tiddim area, on the southern flank of the main operation. Evidently, the Japanese objective is to break through the thick jungle along the front, cutting the rail and river supply lino feeding the American forces in China, also the Chinese and Americans advancing towards Myltkyina. Although the Japanese threat is serious, the Allied commanders appear to feel at least as much enthusiasm as apprehension about the attack, which means that the Japanese are facing a difficult supply problem. The Japanese have only jungle trails along which to move supplies unless they use air transports which can be reached from dozens of Allied fighter fields. During the past week, Fourteenth Air Forcb fighters have been active over the Yangtse River area attacking river shipping and storehouses, says Stilwell’s communique. Mitchell bombers struck at sawmills and lumberyards on the Benthuy coast, Indo-China. Reuter’s New Delhi correspondent says it is announced from General Stil well’s Headquarters that Gurkha troops and Kachin levies captured the Japanese mountain stronghold of Sumprabum about 80 miles north of the Japanese railhead at Myitkyna.

mountain barrier in Eastern Europe, says Reuter’s Moscow correspondent. Koniev’s massed divisions can already see the crests of the Carpathians as, following up their Dniester masterstroke, they advance across Bessarabia clearing a path to the Prut River, the 1940 frontier of Rumania and now only 40 miles away. Koniev’s drive across the Dniester is already taking shape as a big push to clear the remnants of the Ukraine, outflank Odessa, and confront von Mannstein with another gigantic encirclement. From newly-won bridgeheads on the Dniester’s west bank, armoured columns with giant mobile guns are now in action across the river. Striking forward on a broad front they are hitting the battered German units which have been on the run for almost a fortnight. They are pushing the remnants farther from the hank of the Dniester, and clearing a path to the Prut. The next objective is the railway connecting Zhmerinka, Jassy, Galatz, Slobodka and Odessa. Russian newspapers to-day talk about the coming liberation of Lwow and Odessa. The British United Press’s correspondent reporting this adds: 1 ‘ The complete collapse of the Nazi defence before Nikolaiev and Odessa is now assured. The Russians are gaining the whole of Bessarabia and the Germans are retreating so fast that it is doubtful whether they can reestablish control anywhere east of Central Poland. ’ ’ A Berlin radio commentator for the first time used the word retreat in connection with the Ukrainian battles which have hitherto been described as disengagements and defensive movements. The commentator said: “The situation on the southern front is grave. Von Mannstein has to do his utmost to keep the lines to his rear open for his troops in retreat.” Heavy fighting is proceeding in the Dubno-Tarnopol sector, says Reuter’s Moscow correspondent. Cavalry are leading the advance with infantry and tanks following at top speed to keep up with tho routed Germans falling hack from Krzemieniec. The British United Press correspondent says the Germans are reported to have begun the evacuation of the Crimea. The Russian Black Sea Fleet Air Arm, however, is now able to hammer to pieces any major German attempt to get their men out from either the Crimea and Odessa.