MOVE INTO BURMA

Wairarapa Times-Age, 21 December 1942, Page 3

MOVE INTO BURMA

ADVANCE BY BRITISH TROOPS NO ENEMY RESISTANCE. R.A.F. BOMBERS ACTIVE (British Official Wireless.) RUGBY, December 19. A joint war communique received from India this morning states: “During the past few days some of our troops advanced southward from the Arakan border into western Burma and occupied the Maungdaw-Buthid-aung area, about 60 mlies north-west of Akyab. The enemy, who had occupied this area since our withdrawal from Burma and had prepared defences, withdrew without offering, opposition. “Yesterday, supporting these operations for the second successive day, the R.A.F. attacked the Japanese-oc-cupied village of Rathedaung, slightly more than half-way from Maungdaw to Akyab. Blenheims making the raid dropped bombs along the waterfront and on buildings. Much damage was done. Fires were left burning. Last night. Wellingtons bombed Akyab. From these and other operations none of our aircraft is missing. It is now known that in the enemy raid, reported on Wednesday at least three Japanese aircraft were destroyed. We lost four, but the pilots are safe.” The announcement ot the British occupation of Maungdaw, states the Press Association, follows what were termed kite-flying Axis reports of a Japanese advance into India. It is not believed in London that the British advance indicates the opening of largescale operations. Land attack against Burma was forecast before the end of the recent monsoon. The ’move follows a period of intense Allied air activity and patrol clashes. It may have forestalled Japanese invasion of India by a series of bounds along the coast from Akyab to Chittagong. NO CONTACT YET BRITISH TROOPS MAKING PROGRESS. AIR OFFENSIVE CONTINUES. LONDON, December 20. The small-scale penetration of Western Burma, by British troops, was continued yesterday, but no contact has yet been made with the enemy. Fighters shot up a Japanese occupied centre. The air offensive went on last night when an airfield 120 miles from Rangoon was attacked. Several hits were scored on the objective. Japanese night fighters went into action and several combats took place. From these operations all the Allied aircraft got safely back. CHINESE ARMY READY TO CO-OPERATE WITH ALLIES. GENERAL WAVELL’S MOVE WELCOMED. (Received This Day, 11 a.m.) CHUNGKING, December 20. According to authoritative military sources the Chinese army is ready to co-operate with General Wavell’s forces attacking the Japanese in Burma. They added that General Wavell’s counter-offensive is a requisite to turning the tables in the whole of East The Chinese newspapers welcome General Wavell’s move. The “Takung Pao” said it was the beginning of the long-heralded counter- attack. The Allies must grasp this great opportunity

and continue their efforts to complete the-whole job of driving out the Japanese. LATEST OPERATIONS INDIAN WAR COMMUNIQUE. (British Official Wireless.) (Received This Day, 10.45 a.m.) RUGBY, December 20. An Indian joint Avar communique states: '‘On Saturday our troops continued their southward movement m the Arikan area but no contact was made with the enemy. During the day our fighters, co-operating in these operations, carried out an offensive sweep in the Mayu River-Akyal area and shot Yip enemy-occupied buildings. Last night a force of our bombers attacked an aerodrome at Toungoo. All the bombs fell in the target area and bursts were seen on runways and the aerodrome buildings. Several combats with enemy night fighters occurred, but from these and other operations none of our aircraft are missing.