FATE OF RANGOON

Wairarapa Times-Age, 9 March 1942, Page 4

FATE OF RANGOON

AT STAKE IN BURMA BATTLE EFFECTIVE BRITISH USE OF TANKS. ENEMY TROOPS HARASSED. (By Telegraph—Press Association —Copyright) (Received This Day, 1.5 p.m.) LONDON, March 8. Fighting westwards of the Sittang River is going’ on in a salient 50 to 60 miles north-westwards of Rangoon, the fate of which may well depend on the course of this battle, says “The Times” Mandalay correspondent. British tanks are considerably harassing Japanese troop movements. The British have strengthened bridges in the Pegu area, to enable them to bear tanks. JAPANESE CLAIMS PASSED ON BY BERLIN RADIO. ALLEGED OCCUPATION OF RANGOON. (Received This Day, 1.15 p.m.) LONDON, March 8. The Berlin radio quoted a Tokio claim that the Japanese, in mopping up Dutch Timor, captured many prisoners and are now nearing the frontier of Portuguese Timor. Koepang is entirely in Japanese hands. The Saigon radio claimed that the Japanese occupied Rangoon this morning. WESTWARD THRUST STARTED BY JAPANESE. IN AREA NORTH OF PEGU. (Received This Day, 2.0 p.m.) LONDON, March 8. The All India Radio says the Japanese have occupied Payagyi, ten miles north of Pegu and started a thrust westward.

FALSE STORIES SPREAD BY JAPAN. ALLEGED DUTCH REQUEST FOR ARMISTICE. (British Official Wireless.) (Received This Day, 11.35 a.m.) RUGBY, March 8. The following official Dutch statement has been issued in London: "The Royal Netherlands Government emphatically denies stories emanating from enemy sources to the effect that Japan has been asked for armistice terms. As the Japanese have at present full control over all channels of communication with the East Indies, it is expected that similar stories will be put out from various enemy quarters, with the purpose of creating confusion. No credence should be attached to any of them.”

ISLAND OF MADURA OCCUPIED BY JAPANESE. ACCORDING TO VICHY RADIO. (Received This Day, 1.5 p.m.) LONDON, March 8. The Vichy radio declared that Japanese parachute troops have occcupied the island of Madura.