ON BETTER TERMS

Wairarapa Times-Age, 15 May 1942, Page 3

ON BETTER TERMS

DEFENCE OF INDIAN FRONTIER STATEMENT BY GENERAL WAVELL. SURVEY OF DIFFICULTIES IN BURMA. (By Telegraph—Press Association—Copyright) LONDON, May 14. “There are five Japanese divisions in Burma,” said General Wavell, Commander-in-Chief, India, in an interview on the Assam-Burma frontier, “I do not think they are able at present to throw further big forces against us. We shall hence forth be fighting on more favourable terms. “The enemy is bound to have considerable difficulties with communications during the rains. Ours are steadily improving. The enemy is skilful at infiltration and mountain warfare, but we are better prepared and have fresh troops.” The first bombings of Burma had caused wholesale desertions of railway workers and members of the public services, thus disorganising the country, said General Wavell. “Once we lost Mandalay,” he added, "I could not get reinforcements and supplies through by sea. We had to pin our hopes on driving on the new road through Manipur Province. We hoped to hold north Burma till the rainy season, but the Japanese pierced the Chinese lines on our left and captured Lashio. "Our troops put up an extraordinarily good show. Many fought for months without rest and could get few reinforcements or comforts. Hostile Burmese were always likely to shoot them in the back.” The “Daily Telegraph” describes General Wavell’s statement as a frank admission that the situation is serious. The main battle in Burma is being fought 300 miles north of Mandalay, where the borders of India, Burma and China meet. SUCCESSFUL RAIDS MADE BY AMERICAN AIR FORCES. DESTRUCTION OF JAPANESE PLANES. CHUNGKING, May 14. A Chinese communique states: “The American Volunteer Group of ‘Flying Tigers’ bombed a Japanese aerodrome at Hanoi, Indo-China, yesterday, destroying 15 and damaging 25 planes. They also scored direct hits on buildings.” A London message reports a second successful raid by American aircraft on the Japanese-occupied Burmese port of Akyab. YUNNAN FIGHTING BATTLE FOR BURMA. ROAD. LONDON, May 14. A new battle has begun in Yunnan for the Burma Road. The fi<st Japanese objective is apparently a strategic centre 100 miles from the border, but the latest reports indicate that they still have 40 miles to go before they get there. Two Japanese columns are advancing towards the Burma Road. They are apparently aiming to meet on the western bank of the Salween River where some enemy units have already arrived. The Chinese have destroyed bridges over the river and stiong forces stand ready on the eastern bank. . CHINESE REPORTS FIGHTING IN VARIOUS AREAS. SOME ENEMY CLAIMS DENIED. (Received This Day, 10 a.m.) CHUNGKING, May 14. A Japanese column branching northward from, the Burma Road is threatening the ancient city of Tengyueh, on the old caravan route between China and Burma. A Chinese Army spokesman reported that meanwhile the Japanese apparently ai’e stalled at Lungling and Japanese claims to the capture of Paoshan are denied. Fighting continues at several points on the Burma-Thai border, but the enemy advance up the Salween River has been halted. The Japanese will be unable to advance into China unless they are heavily reinforced, the spokesman declared. He denied that the Chinese troops in Burma were withdrawing towards India with the British and asserted that the main body of Chinese still holds pockets between Mandalay and Myitkyina. The Chinese have destroyed bridges across the Upper Salween River and established strong positions on the east bank, in order to hold the Japanese vanguards about 60 miles west of Paoshan. A Chungking communique says that reinforced Japanese troops have occupied Tachai, north-east of Lungling and are attacking the Chinese at Tengchung, 90 miles inside the border, where the Japanese are striving to force a crossing of the Salween River. Chinese units cut the Japanese communications at three points, but reinforcements enabled the Japanese to drive on relentlessly in Western Yuni nan. The communique says that before taking Tachai, the Japanese continued toward Hungmushu. The Chinese inflicted heavy losses in violent fighting. The Burma Road crosses the Salween at Tengchung and the Chinese strove desperately to check the invaders at that point, but an Army spokesman said the Chinese were fighting under extreme difficulties and therefore Tengchung was endangered.