MANY AIR ATTACKS

Wairarapa Times-Age, 22 March 1943, Page 4

MANY AIR ATTACKS

ON JAPANESE IN BURMA LOW-LEVEL BOMBING. LITTLE CHANGE IN TROOP POSITIONS (British Official Wireless.) (Received This Day, 9.45 a.m.) RUGBY, March 21. An India communique states: “No important change has taken place in the positions of our droops in Arakan. “Yesterday the R.A.F. maintained fighter patrols over areas between Rathedaung and Bithidaung, but no enemy aircraft were encountered. ■ Simultaneously, a medium low-level boriibing attack was made on the Japt ■ anese-occupied village of Thaungdara, , five miles north of Rathedaung. In * the Katha district a formation of Blenheims bombed Myitson yesterday morning. Last night bombs were dropped on Bhamo. Other night activity included an attack on Toungoo, of which details are not yet available. All our planes returned.” BITTER FIGHTING < • BUT FORCES ENGAGED SMALL. (British Official Wireless.) (Received This Day, 9.45 a.m.) RUGBY, March 21. There has been bitter fighting again . on the Donbai kside of Mayu Peninsula, says a war correspondent in a message from Calcutta. This is not an indication of large-scale operations taking place—the number of troops involved being too small on both sides to justify such a description. The Japanese held up another determined attack launched by our forces, whose inability to make much progress shows how well the enemy have dug themselves in and exploited their advantages. A soldier, recently returned from operations in Rathedaung, described how the Japanese fired on our men from “funk holes,” even after hand grenades had been pitched into them. The enemy has a system of tunnelling which enables him often to remain unscathed by grenades. LOCAL BATTLES ON YUNNAN AND BURMA BORDER. AND IN OTHER PARTS OF CHINA. (Received This Day, 11 a.m.) CHUNGKING, March 21. Japanese forces on the YunnanBurma border launched attacks from Tengchung against Panmichieh, but, after a fierce battle, the enemy retreat- \ ed, says a Chinese communique. i The Chinese, began a counter-attack against the advancing Japanese in the Lungling sector, forcing the enemy to retreat. Chinese forces have re-enter-ed Hwajung, in the Hunan-Hubeh border region. Intensified fighting is raging south of Shihshu, in Southern Hufieh. Kiangpotu again fell into enemy hands, after the arrival of reinforcements. Chinese forces attacking Michikou, north of Kungan, have gained the upper hand. The Japanese, in this area, attempting to prevent further Chinese attacks, destroyed lake dykes and flooded the district, causing tre- .. mendous loss to civilians. POSITION CRITICAL NORTH OF RATTEDAUNG. JAPANESE CLAIM CAPTURE OF GENERAL. .(Received This Day, 12.5 p.m.) LONDON, March 21. The situation north of Rathedaung continues to be critical for the British, says Reuter's correspondent on the Burma front. The Paris radio broadcast a Tokio , report that during fighting in the Arakan Valley, the Japanese captured prisoners, including a British general.