Evening star., 1942-01-26
British Line Holds
Against japanese
East Of Mou|mein
American Air Volunteers
Add to LuureIs in
Fight Near Roneoon

AGO 10 l0uTeIS III
Fight Near Roneoon
Bv the Associated Press.
RANGOON, Burma, Jan. 26.-
The British command today re-
ported mo change Of the situa-
ton on the Tenasserim front,
indicating that British lines east
of Moulmein were holding firn
against the Japanese invasion
from Thailand.
American volunteer airmen with
the Chinese air force added to their
already long string of laurels on this
Asiatic front by flying their Toma-
hawks into q Japanese fighter force
over the Rangoon area. Unofflcial
reports said-they shot down three
Japanese raiders, probably destroyed
two others and damaged another
One American flyer failed to get
back to his base.
For the, first time, British Hurri-
canes also got into this action. Pre-
viously the r. A. r. here had de-
pended on Brewster Buffaloes.
Today's string of American all
victories brought to at least 90 the
number of Japanese planes de-
stroyed In attacks on Burma since
the start of war and in Allied at
tacks on Japanese-controlled areas
Wavell Visits Rang0On.
Meanwhile, it was announced that
Gen. Sir Archibald P. Wavell,
United Nations generalissimo in the
southwestern Pacific area, had re-
Gently visited Rangoon and dis
cussed the situation with military
and civil officials.
other reports told Of increasing
Chinese troop movements into Bur-
ma and along the Northern 1ndo-
Chinese border.
The communiQue announcing
British lines were unchanged on the
Tenasserim front followed a with
drawal to undisclosed positions
about Moulmein. farther to the
north, over the week end.
Moulmein is about 100 miles
across the Gulf Of Martaban from
Rangoon, and Tenasserim Is the
pendant of territory extending
southwark on the Malay Peninsula
The communique said a company
of 100 Gurkhas from India, COM
manded by q British oficer, had
returned safely to their lines after
being cut of for several DAYS.
The British said the japanese
were moved down during fighting
in the Moulmein sector. but con-
tinued to advance by sheer weight
of numbers"
The R. A. F. flew at low level
in the face of strong anti-aircrsft
fire during the smash at Bangkok
Saturday night, dropping 5O0-pound
demolition bombs on a powerhouse
and other targets. Damage was re-
ported widespread.
Large Fires Started.
An r. A. r. communique said the
Bangkok dock and commercial CEN
ter. also were attacked and large
fires which could be seen 10 miles
away were started.
1t was the second major attack on
the Thailand capital this month.
More than 10 bombers and fighters
OF the Chinese air force, with Amer
ican volunteers presumably partici-
pating, made their second assault IN
three days on Hanoi, French 1ndo-
China, one of Japans main bases.
The air armada sprayed the jap
anese air base with 200 bombs and
left the field in flames, Chinese re-
ports said.
The Chinese also reported . land
victory over the japanese. A
Chungking communique said Chi
nese forces recaptured Tamshui,
20 miles north Of Japanese-captured
Hong Kong and east of the Canton
Kowloon railway. The Chinese were
said to be pursuing the Japanese
from Tamshui southwark toward
Kowloon.
Rangoon had two air raid warn
ings this morning, but no planes
were reported.
1t was officially announced that
81 Japanese aircraft were destroyed
In attacks on Burma and in the
Allied air attacks on enemy -occu-
pied country since start Of the Pa
cific war.
The announcement said the jap
anese lost 56 planes, with l8 others
considered probably destroyed, in
daylight raids over Rangoon and
Mingaladon, near Rangoon.
Thirty -one Japanese planes were
definitely destroyed. three more
probably destroyed and nine seri-
ously damaged in Allied attacks
on Japanese occupied territory and
in air combats over Burma and the
Thai frontier
The total Allied losses were put
at nine planes~
A Domei, Japanese news agency,
dispatch from Bangkok said Thai
land declared war against Britain
and the United States yesterday
and had ordered 100000 Thai
troops massed along the Burma
border to advance into that Brit
ish territory in cooperation with
the Japanese.
There was no mention Of the
fact that Thai troops already were
aiding Japanese invasion Of Burma
in the MOulmein area.
A Berlin announcement said the
reason for the Thai declaration
was that the country had been at
tackled by Britain and the United
States 80 times by air and 81
times on land"
Thailand, in q military agree
ment after surrendering to the jap
anese invasion at the outset Of thu
war in the Pacific, promptly became
a major base for japanese opera.
tions against the Allies.
Thai WorpIones Help