The Waterbury Democrat., 1944-03-07
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 the jungle trails to complete the en- circlement of the enemy forces south of Maingkwafl.
 The Americans made surprise appearance in Northern Burma after marching 200 miles across the Naga hills during the Chotta Qit. tle) monsoon season, the last 100 over jungle trails which they hack ed out themselves from the dense undergromth.
 Major Louis Williams of Laramie, Wyo., Merril's executive officer, said the specially-trained jungle fight ing unit first went into action at 0 small village east of Taipha Ga, beginning a march down the east err perimeter of the Hukawag Val- ley.
 Japanese resistance thus far has not been too great" Williams re- ported. He said American patrols kept far ahead to guarantee against surprise and protect the main body of troops.
 we expect that c tough fight is coming" Williams said. "The Japs are beginning to feel the pinch"
 Trapped 18th
 There were indications that the trapped 18th Division was making an effort to pull out of the Amer ican- Chinese trap. Meanwhile the Chinese have driven to within 200 yards of Maingkwan which the Jap- anese were reported burning.
 Simultaneously a Chinese column driving down the Hukawng Valley surprised Japanese positions at Singban on the main road toward Walawbum.
 Today the Japanese, with heavy artillery cut of, were putting up desperate resistance to the Chinese and Americans who were popping up all over the jungle.
 If the Americana Chinese plan work, 1t will result in the biggest bag of Japenese troops thus far in the Burma campaign.
 The Americans, who have been in the jungles for nearly Q month, are being supplied by air while mules and horses are bringing up heavier equipment from India.
 A comnlunique revealed that the Americans had driven to within 10 miles of junction with Chinese forces striking southeastward through the Hukawng Valley, hem- ming the Japanese into @ narrow, trtangular-shaped pocket.
 West of Walawbum, which was captured last week in the first American infantry action on the Asiatic mainland, the U. s. forces threw Q road block across the high way leading to Maingkwan, and moved up to the south bank Of the Nambyu river, the communique dis closed.
 Simultaneously the Chinese swung down from captured Maingkwan, mopping up isolated Japanese rem nants along the jungle trails. With Americekn and Chinese troops swarming out Of the jungles on all sides, one strong Japanese column broke for the Nambyu river in an attempt to flee southward toward their main bases.
 Brig. .Gen. Frank MerTills Amer ican 1nfantrymen sealed off the river crossing and threw the Jap- anese back with heavy losses.
 The fall of MaingkWan, which was taken by the Chinese early Sum- day after fierce street battle ,elirn- mated the last major enemy artil- lery and mortar concentration in the area.
 Allied warplanes bombed and ma chine-gunned enemy troop positions in the battle area, while other planes hammered Japanese communicat ton lines, presumably along the road to Myitkyina. the main enemy base in northern Burma. mhMn MountbaLLe4. cofnnunique said brisk fighting continued in the Ara akan and Kaladan valley sectors of western Burma, where Britaish imperail forces were moving slow ly southward toward tho port of | Akyab,