Evening star., 1944-04-20
Allied Troops Smash
Jap Positions in Drive
To Relieve kohima
British Infantry and
Tanks Score Coins
In lmphoI Sector
BY the Associated Press.

SOUTHEAST ASIA HEAD
QUARTERS, Handy, Ceylon
April 20.-Allied troops advanc-
ing southeast from Dimapur on
the Bengal-Assam railway have
sliced through japanese road
blocks and positions ringing the
besieged Kohima garrison in the
battle against enemy infiltra-
ton of Eastern India, it was an
nounced today.
Allied headquarters said the re-
lieving column was joining in the
offensive to clear the japanese from
positions threatening the 35-mile
road between Kohima and Dimapur
To the south, further successes
were announced in the battle for
the Imphal Plain as British infantry
and tanks pushed outward from
their Imphal positions into the
jungles and hills.
Japanese Pushed Back.
The Japanese were pushed back
in the sector northeast of Imphal
and were repulsed in hand-to- hand
fighting when they made two at
tacks southwest of Imphal.
In North Burma, 1t. Gen. Joseph
w. Stilwell's Chinese forces extend
ed their long string of victories by
capturing Warazup, 25 miles by roao
from Kamaing in the Mogaung VAL
ley. The 22d Chinese Division oc-
cupied the ruined village after hard
fighting.
To the east the Chinese 38th
Division scored another substantial
success by encircling the remnants
OF japanese division and inflictine
heavy casualties on the trapped
enemy.
tDomei broadcasts from Toxic
today declared the japanese had
launched general offensive"
against the British at ThemaWa,
southeast of Paletwa, on the Ara
kan front along the Bay of Ben
gal. The thrust obviously was
designed to outf1ank the British
spearhead at Buthedaung, 30
miles to the southwest.
QL also was declared the fall
OF 1mphal was imminent, with
the bases first line defenses al
ready in japanese hands, and
that the British had been forced
to flee from their ''hivelike posi-
tions" on hill southwest of
Kohima.)
kohima Garrison Holds Out.
Dispatches from Calcutta last
night said preparations were almost
complete for a final assault to re-
lieve the garrison of British and
Indian troops at Kohima and clear
the enemy from that section OF
India.
A dispatch from an Army observer
inside the besieged city said the gar
rlson had held out against nu-
merlcally superior japanese force
which had been attacking night anG
day for the last week despite heavy
losses.
CThe japanese declared more
tnan week ago that they had
captured Kohima. Earlier this
week Tokyo said japanese forces,
having completed mopping up in
that area, were pushing on rap
Idly toward Dimapur and were
within miles of the town.
Headquarters Shifted.
With Admiral Lord Louis Mount
Eaten, Southeast Asia commander
in chief, already set in new head
quarters in Ceylon, it was disclosed
yesterday that Maj. Gen. George E
Stratemeyer of the Eastern Al,
Command also has shifted his head
quarters from New Delhi to CAL
cutta. 1t was explained that these
moves were part of long standing
PLANS to take the establishments
nearer the scene of operations.
p japanese imperial communique
broadcast by the Toxic radio as
serted today that japanese aircraft
shot down Al planes over the I'M
phal Plain April II and also struck
at the Imphal airf1eld. The claim
was without Allied confirmation.