BEATEN BY GHURKAS

Wairarapa Times-Age, 17 June 1943, Page 4

BEATEN BY GHURKAS

JAPANESE SHOCK TROOPS IN BURMA ENEMY SUFFER HEAVY LOSSES. IN ATTEMPT TO PENETRATE CHIN HILLS (Bv Telegraph—Press Association—Copyright) CALCUTTA. June 16. Japanese shock troops suffered 500 casualties, including a brigadier and several other officers hilled, and a major-general wounded, in a six-day battle with British troops in Burma during the last week in May. The enemy attempted to occupy a British stronghold in wild mountainous country in the Chin Hills, near Kalemyo, 200 miles north of Arakan. They attacked with more than 1000 men in an attempt to reach Tiddim, one of the chief towns in the Chin Hills, but they found the way barred by some of the famous Ghurka units who were holding the road to the hills.

Fierce hand-to-hand fighting ensued, in which the Ghurkas did magnificent work. At the end of six days’ fighting the Japanese casualties were so heavy that they were unable to advance further. Instead of conquering the Chin Hills, they only just managed to retain a precarious hold on one strongpoint on the border of the hills. The Japanese taking part in the battle were identified as shock troops from two famous regiments of a crack division.

RAF. ATTACKS ENEMY DEPOTS & RAILWAYS BOMBED. (British Official Wireless.) (Received This Day, 10.30 a.m.) RUGBY, June 16. A New Delhi communique states that the R.A.F. successfully bombed Japanese troops and depots on the Arakan front and also attacked railway communications.