MANDALAY NOW IN ENEMY HANDS

Wairarapa Times-Age, 4 May 1942, Page 3

MANDALAY NOW IN ENEMY HANDS

.Battered City Abandoned by Chinese

STOUT OPPOSITION TO ENEMY ADVANCE NORTH OF LASHIO HEAVY CASUALTIES ON BOTH SIDES LONDON, May 3. In Burma, General Alexander’s forces are lighting hard 50 miles west of Mandalay. Chinese forces occupy positions on both banks of the Irrawaddy not far from Mandalay. A communique from Chungking states that Chinese forces voluntarily evacuated Mandalay on Friday morning, before the Japanese vanguard arrived. Fighting is still going on m the neighbourhood of the city and the situation is obscure. Tne Chinese continue to launch attacks on the rear of the Japanese columns advancing northward from Lashio. The American Volunteer Group, with Chinese units, heavily bombed Lashio. Bombs fell on the aerodrome in the midst of parked aircraft. They also set barrack buildings on fire and blew up a big fuel dump. A Japanese advance northward from Lashio to Ku Ik a is being resisted vigorously by the Chinese. Casualties on both sides are heavy. The indiscriminate bombing by the Japanese of towns in Central Burma continues. The military results are negligible.