GENERAL ALEXANDER’S TROOPS NEARING FRONTIER

Wairarapa Times-Age, 14 May 1942, Page 3

GENERAL ALEXANDER’S TROOPS NEARING FRONTIER

Renewed! Japanese Thrust Into Yunnan CHINESE GUERILLAS ACTIVE IN ENEMY REAR COMMUNICATIONS CUT BETWEEN MANDALAY AND LASHIO LONDON, May 13. General Alexander’s troops, in their withdrawal up the Chindwin Valley, in Burma, are now 50 miles from the Indian border. British planes have bombed the enemy-occupied aerodrome at Akyab. Chinese guerillas in Burma are still harassing the Japanese. They have cut the Japanese communications between Mandalay and Lashio and between Bhamo and Myitkyina. These lines of communication have been severed at a number of points and advancing Japanese columns are now isolated. The Japanese have brought up reserves and are penetrating Still further along the Burma Road into Yunnan. They are now 50 miles from the frontier and are advancing towards a centre 100 miles, further on. The loss of the Burma Road, though it is a vital one to the Chinese, is not regarded as fatal. The Chinese Commissioner in India said no doubts were entertained in China about bridging over the period until new lines of communication can be established. For some time, he added, big supplies of raw materials for small arms and ammunition had been carried over the Burma Road and China’s arsenals were now well stocked with these materials. Chinese strategy was aimed at forcing the enemy to fight in areas where the rifle and machine-gun, particularly the latter, were the only practicable weapons. The rate of military recruitment in India is stated to bje nearer 100,000. than 50,000 a month. Thanks to the work, as honorary recruiting officers of India non-commissioned officers home on leave from war service, even the remotest villages are supplying their quota of recruits.