Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1942-04-03
British Retreat
North Of Key
Burma Town
Fresh Covering
Positions Token;
Akyob Still Held
By the Associated Press.

By the Associated Press.
NEW DELHI, April 3.-The
British announced today that
they had been forced to fall back
to fresh covering positions"
north of Prone, hitherto western
anchor of the Allied defense lines
in Burma, but officially denied
reports of a japanese landing at
the West Burma port of Akyab,
barely 100 miles from the Bengal
frontier, which would have been
an even greater setback.
I'm Chungking the Chinese
Army spokesman said the Of
fetal British denial showed his
announcement yesterday that
japanese forces had landed at
Akyab was incorrect. He said
his statement was based on mill
tary intelligence reports from
American sourcesD
Although the wording of the COM
r1unique seemed to indicate aban-
donment of Prone, military
spokesman said that so far the jap
aneee had moved up only to the
outskirts of the town, 100 miles
northwest of Rangoon and less than
100 miles south Of the Yenangyaung
oil fields.
The communique said the with
drawal was made under heavy Jap
anese attack in which the invaders
penetrated to stragetic heights just
south Of Prone.
New Contract With Akyab.
The next main line of British re-
sistance was not identified but pre-
sumably is between Prone and the
Nation tributary of the Irrawaddy
some 20 miles north.
Denying Chungking reports Of
yesterday that Japanese forces COW
cred by cruisers and destroyers had
landed at Akyab, a military spokes-
man said British headquarters
had been in. contact with Akyab
this morning" and that there was no
threat to the port at least up to
midday.
British headquarters said there
had been no landings in that area
where a Japanese foothold would be
q double-edged threat-a potential
invasion menace to India and peril
on the flank of the British-held line
In the Prone sector
Hold Covering Positions"
The British command reported its
forces holding covering positions
north of the town early yesterday
morning" and concentrated in new
areas" after strong enemy forces
had won heights south Of Prone.
"On Wednesday evening"" the
communique said, "our covering
force in Prone was attacked by the
enemy in considerable strength.
They penetrated the defense
through jungle country east Of the
main road and secured high ground
south of Prone
Fighting continued throughout
the night and our forces moved back
to fresh covering positions north OF
the town early yesterday morning.
The rest of our forces are concen-
trated in new areas"
CA Vichy radio broadcast,
heard by Reuters in London,
quoted japanese reports as say
ing the British had evacuated
Prone.
ut also was the source of
report that Chinese forces we're
retiring porthward in the Sittang
area, at the eastern end of the
Burma line, pursued by Japanese
advance guards which, 1t said,
had pushed almost IS miles north
of Toungoo on the road to Man
delay0
The British communique said
Japanese spearheads were thrusting
west of the railroad on the Sittang
front and had reached a point south
west of Yedashe, which is IS miles
north of Toungoo.
1t declared, however, that Chinese
forces are still in control of the rail-
way between Yedashe and the point
Immediately north of Toungoo."
The communique reported two air
raids aimed against British airfields
Tuesday, one in Northern Burma
and the other in Central Burma, but
said no damage or casualties were
inflicted on the r. A. F. in either one.