SALWEEN FRONT

Wairarapa Times-Age, 7 February 1942, Page 3

SALWEEN FRONT

RIVER CROSSED ONLY BY PATROLS THREAT TO BURMA ROAD. SOME JAPANESE CLAIMS. (By Telegraph—Press Association— Copyright) LONDON, February 5. British patrols from the west bank of the Salween River have crossed the river and penetrated the Japanese lines at Moulmein, while Japanese patrols have also crossed the lower Salween at a number of points, states a message from Rangoon. A British Army communique reports a quiet day at Martaban (in the river estuary) except for slight shelling. One British patrol made a bayonet charge against the enemy and inflicted casualties. The British . casualties were slight. A spokesman in Rangoon disclosed that Paan, on the east bank, 30 miles north of Moulmein, has been in enemy hands for several days. The enemy has made no large-scale attempts to cross the river. Tokio radio claims that Japanese forces in central Burma have reached a point 75 miles from Lashio, the junction of the Burma Road with the Rangoon railway. Berlin radio quoted a Thai report that the railway station at Toungoo has been destroyed, and that the Mandalay line has been cut in several places by Japanese air raids, and claimed that this attack has effectively cut the Burma Road. The military spokesman in Rangoon said: “Even if Rangoon falls, we have plenty of things up our sleeves to keep the supplies reaching China. The Japanese progress is not likely to be allowed to continue much farther. We have a well-thought-out plan of coun-ter-actions.” Japanese bombers twice raided Rangoon before dawn today. Minor civilian damage was done, and no fatal casualties were reported. ASSAULT PLANNED FROM TOWN ON EAST BANK, (By Telegraph—Press Association —Copyright) LONDON, February 6. Reports from Burma state that the Japanese are assembling for an assault across the Salween River from Paan. R.A.F. bombers have made two heavy attacks against enemy positions in this area.