MILITARY FEAT

Wairarapa Times-Age, 16 May 1942, Page 3

MILITARY FEAT

BRITISH WITHDRAWAL FROM BURMA JAPANESE PURSUIT BAFFLED. SUSTAINED AIR. ATTACKS ON ENEMY TRANSPORT. LONDON, May 15. In Burma bombers of the R.A.F. continued their attacks yesterday on enemy transport on the Chindwin River. Barges were bombed and set on fire. These Japanese forces on the Chindwin have been following in the rear of General Alexander’s retreating troops, but the latter have made no contact with the enemy in the Jast 24 hours. In London it is stated that General Alexander appears to have forestalled an enemy attempt to interpose between his troops and the Indian border. General Alexander’s withdrawal is regarded as a considerable military feat. It has been carried out through country almost entirely lacking in communications and with rivers unbridged. The troops have made an orderly withdrawal and had time to deal with heavy equipment they were unable to take with them.

United States Army bombers yesterday made a second raid in as many days on an enemy occupied aerodrome at Niyitkyina, the northern terminus of the Mandalay Railway. Planes on the ground, runways and buildings were hit. All the planes returned. ARRIVAL IN ASSAM LAST REARGUARDS CROSSING FRONTIER. (By Telegraph—Press Association—Copyright) LONDON, May 15. The Calcutta correspondent of the “Daily Telegraph” says it is expected that by tomorrow the last rearguards of the Imperial forces in Burma will • have crossed the frontier into Assam, after withdrawing across the Naga Hills. It was thought in London yesterday that the British rearguard was still near Kalewa, and to the east and west of it at points within 50 miles of the Indian border. Though General Alexander’s men are still being bombed, the gallant counter-attack of the Gurkhas at Shwegyn, some miles to the south, appears to have given a respite from fighting. SECURE SECTOR REACHED BY BRITISH FORCES. EXTRAORDINARY DIFFICULTIES OVERCOME. (British Official Wireless.) (Received This Day, 10.45 a.m.) RUGBY, May 15. It is officially stated in New Delhi, according to a correspondent there, that General Alexander’s forces in Burma have now succeeded in extricating themselves from a precarious salient and have successfully withdrawn to a more secure sector. This operation is described by an official commentator’ in New Delhi as a military feat of the highest order on the part of General Alexander and his forces. . It is stated that General Alexander’s withdrawal has been, made with the loss of only a few vehicles and heavy armament, which were destroyed by the British forces since the nature of the country ovei’ which they had to pass rendered it impossible to take them with them. The British forces’ had to fight theii' way back through extraordinarily difficult country, interspersed by rivers over which there are no bridges. The enemy was always closely on their heels and trying to cut off their retreat. It is cleai' from this New Delhi announcement that the British forces are still successfully resisting the Japanese, while fighting theii’ way back towards the Indian frontier. Meanwhile a communique issued in New Delhi indicates that the R.A.F. is continuing tc assist the withdrawal by attacking the Japanese rear. The communique states that R.A.F.-bombers carried out a further raid on enemy barges on the Chindwin River yesterday. The barges were successfully bombed and mach-ine-gunned and several were left burning.