WELL SUSTAINED

Wairarapa Times-Age, 9 December 1943, Page 4

WELL SUSTAINED

ALLIED AIR ATTACKS 8 ON JAPANESE IN BURMA. SURVEY OF WEEK’S OPERATIONS. (British Official Wireless.) (Received This Day, 9.55 a.m.) RUGBY, December 8. The contsant harassing by air of the Japanese throughout Burma continues. The latest operations on this front, which is gradually becoming more important, are recorded in the following communique from the South-East Asia Command Headquarters at New Delhi: —'“During the past week, the Allied air forces have maintained their attacks day and night against objectives in Southern Burma. Continuing their attacks on Rangoon on November 30, R.A.F. medium bombers took as their target industrial buildings, where fires were started and a large explosion was observed. Heavy bombers attacked railway installations at Prome. Next day a large formation of United States heavy bombers and fighters scored many hits on locomotive shops and engine sheds, while another formation bombed Akyab. Both formations were intercepted by enemy fighters, 15 of which were shot down. On the same day United States medium bombers hit a railway bridge at Myitgne, which was again attacked and hit on December 6. Airfields and gun positions around Rangoon were also attacked on subsequent nights, and the Allied air forces also maintained successful attacks on road, rail and river communications. In the Arakan district, persistent pat--rol activity on both sides continues, with clashes in the fluid forward areas between the main positions. In a sharp action last week,, spirited hand to hand I fighting took place, the enemy suffering a high proportion of casualties. In Northern Burma, the Japanese maintained their pressure against the Amer-ican-trained Chinese troops covering the Ledo Road project but had little success. There was considerable air activity in this area. From all operations, 12 Allied aircraft are missing, the enemy’s air losses being 18 machines.