Evening star., 1944-04-01
Axis Lines Beginning to Crumb|e
AsReds Press OninOdessaArea:
Japs Within II Miles Of Impha|
Enemy Forces
Register New
Gain in Indiu.
MAP on Page A-2.)
By the Associated Press.


BY the Associated Press.
NEW DELHI, April 1.-Strong
Japanese forces drove farther
westward In India toward the
British base of Imphal, on the
plains of Manipur, an Allied
communique acknowledged to-
day. Dispatches from the front
said enemy patrols had stabbed
to within a dozen miles of the
jungle communications center.
The Japanese advance was re-
ported from the Ukhrul area, 81
miles northeast of Imphal, while
British Indian troops were engaged
in fierce combat with another strong
Japanese column in the hills east
OF Kohima, so miles north of
Imphal.
japanese losses were. heavy, the
communique said, especially in the
battle near Ukhrul.
British Detachment Ambushed.
Southeast of Imphal, Japanese
troops ambushed a small British
detachment on the Palel-T -Tamu road
Thursday night, but Allied artillery
went into action yesterday to blast
a road block the enemy had thrown
across the road midway between
the two towns.
Little activity was reported in the
direction of Tiddim, British forward
base 100 miles below Imphal in
Burma. The capture OF Tiddim by
the japanese was disclosed yester-
day.
(The japanese controlled
Singapore radio said last night
the Japanese had captured the
Mashan road junction between
1mphal and Kohima, virtually
isolating" the British Indian 4th
Army, which now faces immi-
nent destruction" There was no
confirmation of this report in the
Allied communique. and large
scale maps do not show Mashan.)
Chinese Continue Drive.
Vanguards Of the American
trained Chinese forces in Northern
Burma continued their drive south
from Shaduzup in the Mogaung
Valley where they are gradually
encircling a force of 1000 japanese
near Laban.
Native Burmese, who have been
pushing other japanese forces
southwark along the Sumprabum-
Myitkyina road below the Daru
River, have advanced to a point
south Of Kadrangyang, so miles
north Of Kyitkyina, headquarters
said.
South of Maungdaw Allied troops
have advanced to positions south
Of the western tunnel In the Mayu
Mountain range.
With not single japanese plane
rising to challenge Allied air su-
premacy since last Tuesday, the
Allies were dealing death and de-
struction from the air on a scale
unprecedented in this theater.
Auchinleck Cites Air Power.
Gen. Sir Claude Auchinleck, AL
lied commander in India, told the
Indian Legislative Assembly that
the weight and frequency of air
attacks were giving ample evil
dence of the delay and loss they
are causing the enemy"
In addition to strategic bombing
and airborne supply of their own
troops, the Air Forces were grimly
seeking and destroying patches OF
Japanese as they moved from the
jungle cover of Manipur. The total
absence OF japanese aerial opposi-
ton was attributable to the double
knockout dealt by the American air
Commando sweep early in March on
Japanese airfields, when 63 enemy
aircraft were destroyed, and the
Monday and Tuesday score of at
least 80 shot down.
Gen. Auchinleck said the Japanese
were fighting for a quick decision
before the monsoon, attempting to
establish themselves in the Imphal-
Hokima area and strike out at rail
and river communications leading
from Calcutta along the Brahma-
putra into Northeastern Assam"