TRIBUTES PAID

Wairarapa Times-Age, 4 May 1942, Page 3

TRIBUTES PAID

TO BRITISH ANO ALLIED FORCES AID TO GENERAL ALEXANDER. LONG AND GRUELLING FIGHT. (British Official Wireless.) (Received This Day, 10.55 a.m.) RUGBY, May 3. It appears that the British troops north of Mandalay are withdrawing to the north, either up the Manda-lay-Myitkyina Road, to the east, or up the valley of the Chindwin River, a tributary of the Irrawaddy, to the west. Chinese forces seem still to be in the Taung-Gyi area, nearly 100 miles sonth-east of Mandalay, and while their situation as a fighting force must be precarious, it is felt that they may well adopt the tactics they have so fruitfully employed during the past four years in China—disintegrate into guerilla units and reform elsewhere.

Broadly, it would appear that the Japanese are trying to turn the British left flank, by vzay of Bhamo, on the Irrawaddy, some 80 miles south of Myitkyina, and possibly the British right flank also, in the direction of Pakakku, 80 miles south-west of Mandalay.

It is emphasised that the British troops, despite fighting for three months under gruelling conditions, without rest or relief, have not lost coherence as an integral force. Tribute is also paid to General Alexander, the gallant and dogged commander. Reports from Burma mention a very successful action by a Ghurka brigade, with tanks and artillery recently. These show that our artillery fired over 700 rounds by direct observation of the enemy, causing very heavy casualties. The enemy was in far greater strength and supported by divisional and medium artillery. One air raid was made on an Indian refugee camp, which fortunately had been evacuated.