HAND TO HAND

Wairarapa Times-Age, 25 March 1942, Page 3

HAND TO HAND

AND WITHOUT AIR SUPPORT CHINESE FIGHTING BRAVELY IN BURMA. LOSS OF TOUNGOO DENIED. (British Official Wireless.) (Received This Day, 11.20 a.m.) RUGBY, March 24. A New Delhi\ communique states:— “In Burma the Chinese forces are without air support. Since March 19 there have been ten hand to hand encounters between the Chinese and Japanese forces with the bayonet used. The enemy is using both Thai and Burmese troops on the Toungoo front. There was also a heavy Japanese artillery bombardment of Chinese outposts yesterday, with a few casualties. The Chinese forces have the situation well in hand. “A diary captured on March 20 from the dead body of Lieutenant Kyee Pso Yit Lung, of the Japanese 121st Regiment, part of the 55th Division, refers to the difficulty of supply and to the low morale of the Japanese troops. An actual replenishment of supplies was made only twice between February 15 and March 19, so provisions had to be purchased on other occasions. “Japanese claims to the capture of Toungoo are denied.”

MASTER OF STRATEGY GENERAL MACARTHUR. AUSTRALIAN ARMY MINISTER’S CONFIDENCE. MELBOURNE, March 24. The Army Minister, Mr Forde, after a conference with General MacArthur and Lieutenant-General Sturdee, the Australian Chief of Staff, said: I am satisfied that General MacArthur is not only a distinguished military leader, but a man of outstanding intellect and great breadth of vision. “His arrival in Australia and appointment as Supreme Commander has been a great inspiration to the fighting forces and the masses of people in Australia and America. “I am satisfied that General MacArthur is a master of strategy and that under his direction, an aggressive offensive and attacking policy will be developed to the highest possible degree.”