THREAT TO RANGOON

Wairarapa Times-Age, 24 February 1942, Page 3

THREAT TO RANGOON

INCREASING IN GRAVITY POSITION OF THE ENEMY ON BALI. NOT A SINGLE TRANSPORT LEFT. (By Telegraph—Press Association —Copyright) LONDON, February 23. It is officially announced in Batavia that the Japanese troops who succeeded in making a landing on Bali have overrun part of the island and are in control of the aerodrome. On the other hand, strong Allied naval action against the Japanese off the island was so successful that not a single transport remains near Bali to give supplies or support to the invading forces. The enemy losses are understood to have been considerable. It is learned that wholesale destruction of bridges and the railway in south Sumatrahas impeded the Japanese efforts to advance between Palembang and the south coast. The threat to Rangoon is hourly increasing in gravity, says the Mandalay correspondent of the “Daily Express.” The Government of Burma is moving northward from Rangoon. The evacuation plans provide that only demolition squads and the army will remain in 'Rangoon, where, if necessary, the most complete scorched earth activity outside Russia will be undertaken. Though Rangoon’s situation is serious it is not yet irretrievable, the correspondent says. The troops’ morale is undiminished as they fall back closer to the Sittang River, which is the last natural defence line covering the Burma route to China.