Evening star., 1942-02-15
jap Pressure Eased
Along Entire Front
In East Burma
Enemy Crosses SoIween
Near Poon, But Ranks
Are Trimmed Heavily
BY the Associated Press.

BY the Associated Press.
RANGOON, Burma. Feb. IA
Japanese troops have forced Sec
ond crossing of the Salween River
near Paan, but the augmentation
bombs of a squadron of British
Blenheims have thinned their ranks
so frightfully t.lat enemy pressure
eased tonight along the entire East
Burma front.
Flying at treetop level over the
padoga studded jungle hills, a heavy
force of Blenheim bombers dropped
thousands Of pounds of delayed ac-
ton augmentation bombs on the
main japanese forces two miles from
Paan on the road to Thaton. i'm
portant railroad town on the line
that skirts the Gulf Of Martaban
from Rangoon.
Flyers of the American Volunteer
Group and R. A. F. Fighters es-
corted the bombers.
Huge explosions crisscrossed the
jungle clearing as the last of the
Blenheims turned home, unofficial
reports said.
Bitter Fighting Described.
A communique from battle head
quarters of the Burma command
said some of the most bitter fighting
of the war in Burma had taken
place in the last few days. The
japanese made tfrusts across the
Salween at Paan and Martaban,
with Indian troops bearing the brunt
Of the attack at each point.
The capture of Martaban came
after Japanese troops landed con-
siderable number of troops short
way up the Salween. These troops
wormed their way behind the town
and joined another force landed by
sea north of Martaban.
Efforts to relieve the imperial
troops in Martaban were unsuccess-
full. The communique praised the
courage of the Gurkhas, who liter
ally cut their way through Japanese
lines. Some japanese troops were
caught playing cards while. others
broke and ran when the Gurkhas
descended upon them"
The enemy has been throwing his
heaviest forces in the Burma cam
paign at the Paan sector. Earlier
this week the first bridgehead was
established at the mouth of the
long, tenuous stream 80 miles south
at Martaban.
Situation Becoming Quieter.
"On the Salween front after heavy
fighting In the Paan area for the
last two days the situation is be-
coming quieter on the whole 'front.'"
. British Army communique said.
"Details of our casualties are not yet
available, but it is known that con-
siderable casualties were inflicted on
the enemy during the last two
days"
Thousands of fresh Chinese troops.
we'll equipped and eager for battle,
poured into this threatened country
over the Burma road, which they
will help to defend. Apparently
most of these hardened veterans of
four and half years of war took
stands in the mountainous regions
farther north.
A shuttle service, with hundreds
OF trucks hauling the tools of war
into China. and returning with
troops for Burma's defense, was op-
Grating at full force over the wind
ing road from Lashio to RUNNING.
In this sole sector Of the south
west Pacific battle area where the
United Nations control the air, the
telling blows of bombers and fight
ers were felt.
The jaunty American and British
flyers made their offensive sweep
over the Paan area and carried out
reconnaissance missions over other
Japanese occupied territory. Ran
goon again was free of raids.
Hold Positions Near Paan.
Indian and British units were
holding their positions near Paan
and if the japanese can be con-
tanned within a short distance to