The Waterbury Democrat., 1942-04-28

several thousand trapped British troops.
 AS three Japanese columns famed out north and east from Loileni, unconflrmed reports said other ens eniy units had resentered the road junction of Taunggye, 100 miles south and slightly east of Mandalay.
 Chinese headquarters efnphaSlzed the importance of holding Taung. gye, pointing out the neceSEity Of preventing achievements from reaching the enenyS attack forces. whether tho Chinese still held Taunggye was not clear, but com. muniques reported fierce fighting throuRhout the shan states with both sides suffering heavy casual- ties.
 The Japanese clearly intended to strike first at LaShio, to cut of the main supply and communications route to china. The enemy column which drove directly north from Lo!len has reached c point north. east of Mandalay, and Chinese headquarters said the battle for Lashio may be fought before the battle for Mandalay.
 A colnfnunique placed on Japas flese spearhead near Konghaiping, O3 miles north of TaunggyI. Anoth- or was said to have reached Mong Sung, 4e miles east of Konghaiping and only e7 miles from Lashio.
 May Isolate China
 Almost straight east of Goilen1, another Japanese column was re. ported to have reached Running, Q 7b.mile advance. This unit appars entiy was attempting to igolate Chi. nese forces stiil fighting in the southern Shan states along the Thai frontier and prevent them from rejoining troops to the north in defense of the Burma road.
 The entire Japanese advance, strongly supported by planes and tanks, was made In less than two days, according to the Chinese com. iluniques.
 From New Delhi, the British iS. sued c communlque reporting c Japanese advance 60 miles north of Lollem. This thrust, they said, placed the invaders o6 miles almost due east Of Mandalay.
 The same communique said the Allies now occupy Q line from Kyaukpadaung in the Irrawaddy valley oil fields to Meikltla on the central front i2 miles west of the Rangoon-MandAiay railroad. Mei- kitia Is west and slightly north of Tha2i, 7b miles south of Mandalay, where the Chinese have been re. ported fighting Q strong delaying action against C heavy Japanese advance from the south.
 The only encouraging report for the allies was Q special conlrnunlque from the headquarters of U. 6. heut. Gen. Joseph W. stilwell reporting that American volunteer flyers shot down five Japanese planes in tho Loilern vicinity last Saturday. The Americans suffered no losses.
 Flying Tigers At Work
 Running, China, April 2e.-tBy Telephone to Chungklng)-(U American "Flying Tiger" pilots to- day shot down at least ii of . fleet of about 50 Japanese planes that bombed their northern Burma base and set fire to the strategic town of Lashlo.
 The battle, from which the Amer. lcan flyers emerged without c single loss, was fought near Lashio, upon which strong Japanese forces raced by squadrons of bombers and fights CTS are driving iil ail effort to cut the allied supply route to China.
 The Japanese planes were blasting and setting fire to scores of towns and villages and terroriEing native populations In their widespread at. tacig.
 A cotnmunIcue of the American Group, which has been battling numerically superior Japas aese afr forces over Burma, said that the bombing Of the AVG base oc. cured this morning but caused neither damage nor casualties.
 4 fleet of 2T Nipponese bonlbers escorted by numerous fighter planes carried out tho attack.
 The "Fiying Tigers" who havo taken c terrific toll of Japanese planes, ieaped into their planes and gave chase, catching up with the Attackers near LashIo, the northern terminus of the Rangoor railroad.
 Kr the air battle the Americans shet down at least fl Japanese Lighters, and perhaps others, wlth- out iosing c single plane, tho coin' EAuriuue said.
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