The Waterbury Democrat., 1942-04-13
Axis Suffered Heavy
Blows Over Weekend
tcontlnued from Page u

I planes, American pombers bombed
Rahaul, KOepang on the Dutch island
Of Timor, Lac on the New Guinea
coast and Faisi near Bougalnviiie III
the Solomon Islands.
The attack on Faisi, called ono OF
the most widespread and efiicient
of the war around Austr AHA, marked
the first time that the allied myers
had struck at the scuthernmost
base Of Japan's invasion zone.
Airdromes were blasted, buildings
set aflre and planes on the ground
were wrecked in the attacks which
spread along a 2,20O-mile front from
Dutch Timor, up around the north
ern flank Of Australia and down to
the Solomons. Japanese navy Zero
fighters attempted to break up the
hattack but were driven on.
On the Burma front the British
and Chinese were making desperate
efforts to reinforce their armies
along the 1rawaddy and sittang riv-
ers as the Japanese started o big
attack southwest Of Taungdwingyt
IN q thanking movement through
the Pegu Yoma mountains and an
allied communique said the enemy
was pressing hard" northward.
Japs Moving Along
Another Japanese column moved
up the main road toward the Bur-
ma oil fields from Sinbaungwe on
the east bank OF the Irrawaddy, IS
miles north OF Magwe. Taung-
wtngyi, between the Irrawaddy and
Sittang, Is only i40 miles southwest
1 Of Mandalay.
! Churchill, in a formal statement
in Commons, revealed the gravity
Japan's threat to India and the
vital allied lines of supply through
the Indian Ocean an dthe Bay OF
Il Bengal.
| Making 1t clear that the Japa-
nese fleet dominates the northern
part Of the Indian Ocean and the
Bay Of Bengal. he said that Brit
aims air fleet already has been vir-
tually knocked out III Its efforts TO
halt Japan's westward push there.
4 Az the same time Japan an
nounced that another cruiser, Of the
Leader class, had been damaged
seriously by japanese planes off In
dia.
The Russians claimed new major
successes over Germany's reinforced
armies on the eastern front where
1t appeared that Hitler's long-her-
aided big drive for the rich Caucasus
was underway.
A report reached London that the
Russians had smashed across the
Desna river on the central front
and practically encircled1 the key
city Of Bryansk, one Of the Ger
mans winter strong points.
Russia Warns Japan
Moscow, April 13-CUP) - The
newspaper Pravda today warned
japanese militarists whose heads
are turned by military success" 70
beware Of 'pratt.e about an an
nexationist war in the north" ISL
beria) If Japan desires to maintain
its neutrality pact with the Soviet
Union.
The Pravda editorial, distributed
by the official Tass agency on the
first anniversary Of the neutrality
pact with Japan said:
The Japanese Fascist military
circles whose heads have been turn
ed by military successes must liu-
derStood that their ballyh9p but
waging an anexationist war III the
north can harm Japan first Of all
and most Of all.
For the neutrality pact 10 con-
tinue, Japan must have the same
attitude toward the agreement as
the Soviet Union. She must hold
strictly and consistently to the agree
ment and undertakings, leaving no
. questions imregulated."
The editorial said that IF the
Japanese strictly observe their obli-
, cations, the Soviet Japanese neu-
J trality pact will retain its signifl-
canoe for the peop:e Of both comi-
. tries In the present complex and
momentouS international situation"
It said that the neutrality agree
ment came about as "a result Of
assimilation Of the simple fact that
the y. S. s. r, Is not one OF those
: countries whose interests can be
. violated with iEnpunity."
: But since the Pacific war started,
IL pointed out, there have been re-
peated suggestions that Japanese
! Extremists were plotting to attack
! Siberia. CThe Port Of Vladlvostok in
! Siberia has been discussed rs a pos
slble Allied base fot American bonlb~
! ing attacks Tokyo 4 Russia should
enter The far eastern waFl