ALARMS & RAIDS

Wairarapa Times-Age, 17 April 1942, Page 3

ALARMS & RAIDS

DEFENCE OF CORREGIDOR AMERICAN OFFICIAL REPORT. FORTRESS LITTLE DAMAGED. (By Telegraph—Press Association—Copyright) (Received This Day, 9.30 a.m.) WASHINGTON, April 16.

A War Department communique states: “In the Philippines there were five air raids on Corregidor on Wednesday, but our anti-aircraft fire forced the enemy bombers to an altitude too high for Effective bombing. There have been 206 air raid alarms in Corregidor since the beginning of the war. Actually there have been more raids than alarms, since there have been occasions when the alarm was on for half a day, during which there were four or five air attacks. Since April 9, there have been 65 air raids. Despite the almost constant bombing, the damage to military installations is relatively slight and the morale of the troops is unimpaired. Our forts were shelled intermittently during Wednesday by enemy batteries on the north and south shores of Manila Bay. Our guns returned the fire, registering hits on troop concentrations and truck columns on the Batan Peninsula. Ammu-' nition dumps were hit and blown up, while enemy casualties are believed to have been numerous. Fierce fighting continues in Sebu.” FIERCELY RESISTED ENEMY DRIVE IN BURMA. JAPANESE PARACHUTISTS LAND IN JUNGLE. (British Official Wireless.) (Received This Day, 9.50 a.m.) RUGBY, April 16. A Burma communique states: “Fierce fighting continued yesterday. Our forces, who withdrew from Migyaungye, have established positions near Yenchaung, north of Minhle (about 20 miles north of Magwe). They were covered by the King’s Own Yorkshire Light Infantry, who for days fought a magnificent action at Myingun. Our forces in the Taungdwingyi area still hold their positions, covering the right flank of the Chinese Expeditionary Force. The enemy air force has been very active, both in the forward areas and on the lines of communication north of Magwe. It is reported that steady enemy pressure was continued on the Myoala front today, with our troops moving slowly back and fighting a stubborn, delaying ' action.”

A belated report from field headquarters states that four Japanese parachutists landed in the jungle near Yeni on April 12. They are reported to have baled out of three aricraft.