Evening star., 1942-03-27
Japanese Bombers Make 7 Raids
On Corregidor in Last 24 Hours;
Enemy Warshi ps in indian Ocean
Trapped Chinese
Continuing to
Hold Toungoo

NEW DELHI, March 27.-The
presence of surface units of the
japanese Fleet in the Indian
Ocean was disclosed today in a
British communique from Bur-
ma, where japanese troops were
said to be continuing heavy
pressure against Chinese forces
cut of, but still holding Toungoo
on the Rangoon -Mandalay road.
The war report said 4 japanese
cruiser and several destroyers had
been sighted operating in waters
around the Japanese seized Anda-
man islands, within striking dis
tance of the sealanes to Calcutta.
Units Of the Japanese feet
steamed into Rangoon Harbor
yesterday after sweeping up mines
which the British had left to
guard the sea approaches to the
today in TokioD
With the Irrawaddy front still
relatively quiet, the Chinese at
Toungoo apparently were bearing
the brunt of the land assault.
Withdrawal Route Cut.
The heaviest pressure was report
ed from the northwest where jap
anese inflltration cut the Chinese
advance forces route OF withdrawal
8 to II miles north Of the town.
Throughout yesterday. the war re-
port said. the Japanese continued
heavy bombing.
Some shipping was bombed at an
unidentified town last Tuesday. Two
hits on raiders were claimed by anti
aircraft gunners defending the town,
described only as in the river area
OF the Irrawaddy front, where
British forces guard the way to the
Burma oil fields. the war bulletin
said no reports have yet been re-
ceived OF contact with enemy COL
umns mentioned in yesterdays COM
muniQue."
These troops had been moving up
the Irrawaddy Valley.
The communique said that on the
main. road through Prone to the
oil fields and India there had been
no contact with the invaders north
of Opho. 1t is IS miles south of
Prone.
Outermost Defenses Intact.
Hinged completely and attacked
time after time, the Chinese forces
at Toungoo. isolated left anchor OF
the Allied Central Burma line. held
their outermost defenses intact
against Japanese pressing from all
sides
The invaders had by-passed
Toungoo on the Eastern Rangoon-
Mandalay road. taken Kyungon, II
miles to the north and still held the
Toungoo airdrome. 8 miles above the
city, but still they could not bulge
the intrenched Chinese about Tun-
goo itself.
On the other main road to Central
Burma, the Irrawaddy Valley route
to Prone and the oil fields l40 miles
farther north, the japanese were
moving in force. peppering the coun-
try ahead of them with parachute
troops dropped from the skies to
organize Burmese fifth columnists.
One large mixed enemy force was
40 miles south of Prone. another
some Is miles behind It,
Gen. H. R. L. G. Alexander issued
this communique late yesterday:
Strong japanese forces were at
tacking Toungoo from all sides to-
day, with the Chinese defenders
throwing them back time after time.
THE Chinese general commanding
there states that the situation is
well in hand despite the fact that
Toungoo is now surrounded.
The Chinese had set up de-
fense in depth at Toungoo and de-
spite repeated attacks, which had
gone on for about 36 hours. the jap
anese have failed to penetrate the
Chinese outer line of defense.
TO reduce it to bowling alley Ian
guage, the Chinese attitude at
Tcungoo appears to be: You set
them up and we will knock them
down."
The Allied position appeared to be
worsening steadily. With the Chi
nese cut off at Toungoo. the Brit
ish Army now guarding the Ye-
nangyaung oil fields north of Prone
faces japanese offensives from both
east and north. Apparently Gen.
Alexander is expecting the japanese
from Toungoo to turn west for a
junction with the enemy force In
the Irrawaddy Valley, although yes
terday's communique reported no
contact as yet in the Peggy Yoma
Mountain Range which lies between.