WIDESPREAD ACTIVITY

Wairarapa Times-Age, 19 February 1942, Page 3

WIDESPREAD ACTIVITY

LAND AND AIR OPERATIONS Enemy Infiltration Tactics in Burma TOLL TAKEN OF JAPANESE RAIDERS ON SURABAYA HEAVY BOMBING AND ARTILLERY ATTACKS IN PHILIPPINES

LONDON, February 18. A message from Batavia states that Allied forces in the Netherlands East Indies are awaiting the next Japanese move. This, it is thought, will probably be against Java and may take place at any moment. It may take the Japanese some time to repair the aerodromes in Sumatra before they are usable. In Burma, heavy fighting has been proceeding since yesterday. This is reported in a Rangoon communique picked up by the Columbia Broadcasting Association from the All-India station. The enemy attacked the left flank of our line and this resulted in hand to hand fighting. During the day fighting extended along the entire front, A counter-attack by Gurkha and other troops restored the situation. The enemy crossed the Bilin River at some points in small boats. Our forces held their positions and are fighting strongly. It was stated yesterday that our troops had withdrawn to the line of the Bilin River and' taken up new positions there after retiring from the line of the Salween. The R.A.F. was active in Burma yesterday, attacking enemy concentrations, stores and boats in addition to other targets. An enemy-occupied aerodrome in Northern Thailand was also attacked by our bombers. Reuter’s correspondent in Rangoon states that Japanese cyclist scouts disguised in Burmese dress are being used in the advance towards Rangoon. They are moving only by night. The correspondent states that these tactics have worked well so far, but points out that more open ground is likely to prove more difficult, as our troops hold a good field of fire and have local air superiority. ENEMY LOSES ELEVEN PLANES From the Netherlands East Indies, the destruction of eleven Japanese aircraft is reported. Five out of a force of 21 Japanese bombers were shot down when they made a raid on Surabaya, which is now the most important naval base left to the Allies in the South-Western Pacific. The raid did little damage and caused few casualties. General Wavell’s headquarters reports that in southern Sumatra American fighters shot down four enemy fighters, without loss to themselves. Two more Japanese fighters were brought down by Dutch bombers. American planes attacked enemy transports off the island of Banka. One large transport was destroyed and others were hit. Not one American plane was lost. The Batavia radio states that in the Celebes the defending forces have maintained their positions after their withdrawal from Macassar. In the interior of the island conditions are normal and the spirit of the people is high.

In the Philippines the Japanese have made heavy bombingattacks on General MacArthur’s troops. Artillery bombardment also has increased and the enemy continues to land reinforcements. New batteries are also swelling- the enemy’s fire.