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Wairarapa Times-Age, 7 March 1942, Page 3

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STRUCK BY BRITISH TROOPS IN BURMA CONSIDERABLE ENEMY CASUALTIES. ON SITTANG RIVER FRONT. (British Official Wireless.) RUGBY, March 6. A Rangoon communique received early today states: “On the Sittang front there is little change. Yesterday our troops attacked a village in the area and captured a number of 77 millimetre guns and five-inch mortars. Considerable casualties were inflicted on the enemy, “Our troops broke up Japanese supply transports. Patrol action continued throughout the night. "The R.A.F. carried out reconnaissance and patrol work. A small patrol of R.A.F. fighters encountered a large formation of Japanese aircraft and despite its numerical superiority the Japanese formation was broken up. One Japanese bomber was shot down, our losses being nil.” For a long time there has been a disaffected minority in Burma whose main grievance has been against the “opendoor” policy, and specially against the influx of Indians into Burma. It is probably this minority which has been committing acts of lawlessness, specially against the Indian section of the population of Rangoon. SOME ENEMY CLAIMS. The Domei news agency claims that the Japanese captured Mingaladon aerodrome, north of Rangoon, making smashing headway along the Sittang River. It says one Japanese spearhead pushed well past Pegu and that the Japanese cut the Rangoon-Lashio railway in several places. Heavy fighting is going on in the Tuongoo area and British troops have taken up positions along the Irrawaddy. The Tokio radio claims that the evacuation of Mandalay has been ordered. The Japanese also say that they have occupied Maros and Danpos, which is 20 miles east of Maros. According to Rome radio the Japanese claim to have captured Rangoon.