GREAT STRUGGLE

Wairarapa Times-Age, 24 March 1942, Page 3

GREAT STRUGGLE

FOR AIR SUPREMACY BOTH SIDES REINFORCED IN BURMA. LAND BATTLE EXPECTED SOON. (By Telegraph—Press Association—Copyright) LONDON, March 22. A tremendous battle for air supremacy is raging over the Burma front, says the “Daily Mail’s” Calcutta correspondent. 'Both sides have been substantially reinforced. British and American fighters on March 22 shot down 20 of 60 raiding bombers and escorts which made determined efforts to wipe out one of our advanced air bases. The air fighting is leading up to a land battle which is expected to be joined soon and which will probably decide the fate of Mandalay. Japanese Fifth Column activity in south Burma was responsible in no small degree for the rapidity of the Japanese advance. The north Burmese are a different type and are mobilising more solidly against the invaders, but it would be folly to forget that the white anti-Axis forces are not regarded as saviours, but as one of two evils. Our job is to convince Asia that we are at least the lesser evil. Perhaps Sir Stafford Cripps will be able to convince it that we are not an evil at all.

‘ VITAL SEA LINES MR NASH BROADCASTS. NEW ZEALAND & AUSTRALIA MUST BE HELD. WASHINGTON, March 22. New Zealand and Australia must be held, declared the New Zealand Minister to Washington, Mr Nash, in a broadcast. (< He called for guns, ships, and planes for the Anzac soldiers, sailors, and airmen, and said, “If New Zealand and Australia were to go under, the democratic front would be broken in a vital sector. It is vital to keep sea communications open to New Zealand and Australia. To make them secure against invasion or blockade, a strong naval and air force is essential.”

ORDERED OUT JAPANESE ON ISLAND IN PUGET SOUND. OPPOSITE AMERICAN NAVY YARD. (By Telegraph—Press Association—Copyright) (Received This Day, 10.5 a.m.) NEW YORK, March 23. According to a San Francisco message the Army has ordered the forcible evacuation of all Japanese from Hainbridge Island, in Puget Sound, opposite the Bremerton Navy Yard, to be effective on March 30. This order constitutes the first compulsory exclusion action against west coast Japanese. The evacuations now under way in Southern California and elsewhere are still on a voluntary basis. About 300 Japanese living on the island will be affected. HOLIDAYS BY ORDER JAPANESE READJUSTMENTS IN PHILIPPINES. (Received This Day, 10.5 a.m.) NEW YORK, March 23. According to the Tokio radio, the Domei Agency says the Japanese authorities in the Philippines have banned the celebration of American national holidays, allowing only Good Friday, Easter and Christmas and have ordered the observance of the accession to the throne of the first Japanese Emperor on February 2, the birthday of Emperor Hirohito an April 29 and the birthday of Emperor Meihi on November 3.