Evening star., 1942-04-30
japanese Take
LdShioAfter
Heavy Fighting
BottIine Goes On in
Area; Entire Burmo
Defense Menuced
By the Associated Press.

| By the ASSOclated Press.
CHUNGKING, China, April 80.
-Lashio, the Burmese back
door to China, fell to the Japa-
nese Wednesday after a battle
in which both sides suffered
heavy casualties, the Chinese
high command announced to-
night.
Both old and new Lashio have
fallen, but battle still is continuing
in the vicinity of the city, COM
munique said. Twelve Japanese
tanks were listed as destroyed.
The loss of Lashio menaced the
entire British Chinese defense of
Burma
The threat to bomb-ruined and
now outflanked Mandalay never was
graver.
Fierce fires were reported raging
at Lashio, indicating that Burmese
fifth column incendiarists had
risen there, or that the Allies them
selves had put the place to the torch.
Some Of Supplies Destroyed.
At least some Of the lease-lend
supplies which the Burma road s
overburdened truck transport had
failed to move on into China were
known to have been destroyed. A
Chinese Army spokesman said this
was the fate OF supplies remaining
after the bulk had been carried on.
A Chinese spokesman said there
was only minor fighting on the CEN
tral and western fronts, in the Sit
tang and Irrawaddy River valleys,
but that q Chinese force still was
engaging the japanese around
Pyawbwe, IS miles south Of Man
dalay, and that another Chinese
force was attacking eastward from
Taunggyi, go miles east of Pyawbwe.
This latter force could, with SUM-
cient strength. isolate the Japanese
near Lashio by cutting their COM
munications, he said, but he noted,
too, in this war of swift movement
and inf1ltration, that the Japanese
would have the choice Of proceeding
on northward, toward the Chinese
border, or swinging west to encircle
Mandalay.
Determined to Fight On.
Advices from the front de-
clared 1t. Gen. Joseph w. Still
well. hard-bitten American COM
mander of the Chinese forces in
Burma. was determined to contest
every foot Of ground and military
circles expressed belief he would be
favored by the increasingly rough
terrain which lies ahead OF the
Japanese.
One bright side to the picture
was provided by the announcement
that the Flying Tigers" of the
American Volunteer Group had
scored smashing new victory over
the japanese air force, shooting
down % of "a planes which at
tempted to raid Lowing on the
Yunnan-Burma border.
The Chinese Central News Agency
said the remaining two japanese
planes had been damaged and prob
ably failed to reach their bases.
The A. v. G. flyers did not lose a
single plane In the combat, which
took place Tuesday, it was said.
Lowing is the site of one of
China's few warplane factories-a
plant organized by William D.
Pawley Of New York The town
also is known as Pawleyville.
In penetrating to Lashio, the jap
anese accomplished northward
advance of approximately ITO miles
from Loilem in four days. Only
yesterday morning reports reaching
Chungking had placed the invaders
at Mansam, so miles south OF
Lashio.
Another japanese column was re-
ported to be approaching Hsipaw
about 40 miles southwest of LaShic
and between that town and Man.
dalay
1t was announced that Nine
Chang Kai-shek, American-edu-
Gated wife of the Chinese generals
simo, was going to Burma to visit
Chinese wounded and distribute
$4,000 in United States currency to
soldiers who had distinguished
themselves for gallantry.