VIOLENT FIGHTING

Wairarapa Times-Age, 20 February 1942, Page 4

VIOLENT FIGHTING

ON THE RANGOON FRONT JAPANESE DRIVEN INTO RIVER. HEAVY CASUALTIES ON BOTH SIDES. (By Telegraph—Press Association—Copyright) (Received This Day, 12.5 p.m.) RANGOON, February 19. A communique states that British troops drove the Japanese forces which were trying to-cross at Bilin into the river. Violent fighting, with heavy casualties on both sides, raged along a front of about fifty miles east of the Rangoon railway. CHINESE PREPARING INVASION OF INDO-CHINA SUGGESTED. OPPOSING FORCES ASSEMBLING. Received This Day, 12.40 p.m.) CHUNGKING, February 19. The United Press states that militarists estimate that 100,000 Chinese troops are proceeding to Burma, while the Chinese Intelligence Department has received reports that 30,000 mechanised Japanese recently landed at Haiphong, and are expected to proceed to the Chiengniai area, in north-west Thailand, while others remain at Tonkin, anticipating a Chinese invasion of IndoChina. Other reports indicate that two Japanees divisions already have been transferred from Malaya to Burma. Responsible militarists expect that the Burma battle will be fought in the north and central areas, rather than in the Rangoon area, though this does not mean that Rangoon and Kunming are no longer being defended. The north central sector is believed to be guarded by Chinese crack troops, who are also well provided with American lendlease material, also pursuit planes, bombers and pilots that have recently arrived from the Middle East.