Evening star., 1944-04-10
Jap Troops Try
Sweep Around
|mpha|
Enemy Continues
Pressure ON Kohimu
Despite Losses

Pressure on Kohimu
Despite Losses
MAP on Page A-3)
BY the Associated Press.
NEW DELHI, April 10.-The
japanese besiegers of the Plain
of Imphal have sent small par
ties west of Bishenpur, 1917 miles
southwest Of Imphal on the It'd
dim road, where they have been
in contact with Allied forces and
suffered casualties, the South
west Asia Command announced
today.
This was the first time the Japa-
nese had been reported west of the
Tiddim- -Imphal road. ct indicated
a japanese effort to sweep around
the Imphal defenses from the south
weSt).
British forces stoutly defending
Kohima, strong point in the North
ern Imphal Plain, have wiped out
Japanese groups which penetrated
the towns tight ring of defense
killing at least so and taking others
prisoners, the communique said.
Japs Continue Pressure.
Undeterred by losses, the Japa-
nese invaders continued their pres
sure in the whole Kohima area
Along the road from Tiddim to the
south Of Imphal the Japanese in
creased their pressure and we're ir
contact with Allied defenders.
; Fighting also was reported in the
foothills north of the plain where
further losses were inflicted on the
enemy.
Kohima is key defense point IS
miles southeast of the Bengal-As-
sam railroad which supplies Amer
lean and Chinese forces fighting in
North Burma under 1t. Gen. Joseph
w. Stillwell. It is 80 miles inside
India and so miles north of Imphal
the Allies major base in Northeast
India. Fifteen miles of the Kohima-
Imphal road has been blocked by
japanese infiltration parties.
The Southeast Asia Command de-
clared yesterday that small ini-
tial penetration" of Kohima's out
skirts had been repulsed by the
strong Allied garrison.
(The Japanese have claimed
capture of Kohima.)
Allies Hold Edge of Plain.
The japanese were bringing steady
pressure to win the Imphal plain,
rich in food. before the monsoon
next month halts most military
activities, but Allied troops were
said to have firm hold at the mo-
ment at the edge of the plain.
The enemy has come within 10
miles Of Imphal from the northeast,
on the road from Ukhrul.
GA BIC broadcast heard by
Obs said Allied forces had evac-
uated Tamu, about so miles be-
low Imphal. Another London
broadcast, also recorded by CHS,
said the British had made an
other air-borne landing behind
Japanese lines due east of I'M
phal, between the Irrawaddy and
Chindwin Rivers, to support a
column already III that area.
(The Berlin radio today quoted
a japanese government spokes-
man as saying in a Toxic dis
pate lat the fall of Imphal is
a MI er only of days.
Importance Emphasized.
Military men emphasized the i'm
portance of holding the Imphal
Plain, which would give the Japa-
nese a base for blows north and
west into other valleys and plains
of India, and of retaining the roads
suitable for motorized strikes.
The Allies have an advantage of
greater air power and mobility, and
have ample forces in the general
area to meet the enemy columns if
they can be located, these officers
added. But in the thick jungle
country the raiding japanese patrols
are extremely hard to find and stop,
In the Mogaung Valley or North
ern Burma, meanwhile, Brig. Gen.
Frank Merrill's Marauders were said
to have trapped japanese troops
who had partially encircled one
Marauder unit. Another American
column came to the rescue, pinning
down the enemy in a bitter eight
day fight.
Fighting also broke out on the
Arakan front to the south where
the Japanese made local unsuccess-
full counterattacks on both sides of
the Mayu Range which cost them
considerable casualties The Allied
communique said West African
troops inflicted heavy casualties on
the enemy in a clash east of Kali
adam village.