| Show Japs Sweep 25 Miles Over Burma Road By SPENCER MOOSA 1 May 7 A lP-A P A Japanese mechanized spearhead with warplane support has swept 25 miles along the famed Burma road into Chinese territory and reached the town of where heavy fighting is in p progress ogress a Chinese army spokesman said Thursday The spokesman said it was not clear clear how far the Japanese in intended intended in- in tended to penetrate province provInce province ince which contains the Chinese section of the Burma road but the lightning drive to so rapid the Chinese had no time to destroy the highway raised speculation speculation speculation lation as to the prospects of a major offensive with the capital as the objective En route the Japanese completed occupation of f Wanting Chinese customs station at the Burma border border border bor bor- der at which the new Japanese invasion of China began two HWO days ago For some weeks weeks' close students of Japans Japan's intentions have suggested suggest suggest- ed that her next major move might be j r campaign to knock Free China out of the wat war This might take the form of a drive northeastward northeastward northeastward north north- eastward through toward synchronized with other attacks from the old China fronts in Shansi Honan and provInces provinces provinces inces northeast and east of ot Chiang shek's Kai capital In Tokyo the agency quoted officials as declaring that the chief objective of ot the Burma campaign had been practically attained attained attained at at- with the entry into and occupation of on the Burma west coast This suggests that a major Japanese purpose was not m merely rely to close the Burma road to American and British aid to China but to use It as as an avenue of ot invasion The Chinese spokesman said fighting continued in southern Hunan province where the Japa- Japa Con Continued led on Page Pae Five Column six JAPS ADVANCE ON BURMA ROAD Continued from Page Pase age One nese launched a series of attacks from g miles north of I late last month He insisted however that these j operations were minor the Japanese Japanese Japanese Japa- Japa nese nese intention apparently being to give fresh troops battle practice and to forage for supplies When the Honan Honal attacks began it was suggested that they might develop I into a big westward push toward The spokesman expressed doubt that the Japanese would be able to complete their occupation of or Burma Burma Burma Bur Bur- ma and insisted that if they attempted attempted attempted at at- tempted a major invasion of China from that direction they would encounter much much more formidable Chinese resistance than that of the Fifth and Sixth armies sent into Burma Chief Towns Bombed Several of or the chief chief- towns of or I were bombed Wednesday in m raids that suggested either an anI I attempt to paralyze the movement i of reinforcements toward the BurI Burma Burma Bur Bur- I ma border or to prepare the way for invading forces One town tow repeatedly t raided by bythe bythe bythe the Japanese recently is Paoshan on the Burma road miles inside China suggesting that this might be the next objective of the invasion invasion inva invasion inva- inva sion columns Paoshan also might be an advanced base for the American American American Amer Amer- ican volunteer group fliers and Chinese air forces It was reported also ago that the Japanese air squadrons at had been reinforced but details of their strength were not hot available avail avail- able This might merely be in preparation for the regular bombing bombing bomb bombing ing season for which begins this month when the fogs and clouds of the upper Yangtze valley are dispelled Or it might be to support land movements Attempt oft Cut The army spokesman said the Japanese column which had been advancing up the river had turned to the east apparently to cut off Chinese troops still fighting around Mandal Mandalay y the ruined Burmese city which fell last week to the Japanese The Japanese meanwhile kept up bomb attacks on points in and provinces from which apparently they feared that air attacks might be launched on Japan |
