The Waterbury Democrat., 1944-03-27
Burma Fight
Flares Up
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NNWHNAMAWNA GWkG A.
thrust behind the British lines IN
the enemy's familiar intiltratlor
tactics were destroyed and their
supporting infantry were driven IN
retreat with heavy losses, the COM
munique said.
Observers believed the Japanese
drive in this sector had been stalled
temporarily, but 1t was indicated
that full-scale armored battle
was imminent.
Further to the northeast, heavy
fighting was reported continuing be-
tween British imperial units and
Japanese columns striking westward
toward 1mpi1al and Ukhrul, some 30
miles northeast Of that town.
Japanese pressure In this area Is
being contained and the enemy has
suffered heavy losses, the communi-
que said.
Another strong Japanese armored
force moving through the Kabaw
Valley on Imphal also appeared to
have been stalled and the COM
munique said fighting In that area
had slackened.
Mai. Gen. o. @. Wlngate's air
borne British commandos who re-
portediy have cut the Myitkyina-
Mandalay railroad In north central
Burma today threatened supply lines
OF Japanese forces which crossed
the border into india.
Type Of Warfare
Announcement that Wingate was
leading the commando force landed
far behind the enemy lines BY Amer.
lean transport planes and gliders
commanded by Col. Philip @. Coch-
ran was the first indication Of the
type Of warfare which the japanese
can expect.
The bearded, round-shouldered
master jungle commando, who led
British and Indian troops which
harassed 10000 square miles OF en-
emy-held territory between February
and April, i943, said the new opera
lions would be based on the expert
ence Of those raids.
Wingate and Cochran--a coribina"
ton known popularity aS the wing
and the beard"-made one OF the
most daring military operations In
history In establishing deep In Japa-
nese territory air and land bases
from which long-range penetration
columns are operating against en-
envy communications
Southeast Asia command COM
muniques reporting that Allied air.
craft supported ground forces In
the vicinity Of Indaw and Mawlu,
on the Myitkyina- Mandalay rail-
road, confirmed that fighting actual.
ly was In progress In that area,
about 100 miles southwest OF Myit.
kyina and an equal distance east Of
the Indo-Burmese border.
Threat
Severing OF that important rail-
road would cut of supplies intend
ed for the Japanese 18th army, ale
ready hard pressed In the Mogaung
Valley by Chinese and American
forces, as we'll as threaten commun-
ications Of the three -pronged enemy
attack aimed OF Imphal, capital Of
midas Manipur province.
1t. Gen. Joseph w. etilwell's
headquarters reported that the main
Chinece army moving south from
Jambu Bum Pass was within Ave
miles Of Shaduzup, already taken
by O thanking American and Chi
Ilese force, with @ body Of Japanese
encircled between the Allied troops
which were maintaining steady
pressure on them. shaduEup Is So
miles northwest Of Myitkyina.
Ghurka levies have advanced SO
miles south from captured Sum.
prabum TO within about 30 miles Of
Myitkyina, Stillwell said.
In the border area Of india, Brit
ish and indian troops were reported
holding their own against the Japa-
nese driving for rmphal, pushing the
invaders back In several sectors.