World Battlefronts: BATTLE OF ASIA: Southward in Burma

One of the world's half-forgotten wars moved on in southern Burma. The advancing British Fourteenth Army neared Rangoon. The oil towns of Yenangyaung and Magwe fell; so did Toungoo. The foe seemed weak and confused: a single Japanese sentry stepped out to stop a British tank and was run over.

On a 6,000-ft. mountain far in the north the "Jmghpaw Elders of the United States Army"* gathered to celebrate. These Kachin tribesmen, armed with everything from bazookas to an issue of 500 good-as-new Civil War muskets, had taken Uncle Sam's 30¢ a day and fought the Japanese over the mountain trails in one of the war's toughest campaigns. Once 46 Kachins held a pass against 470 Japs, and killed 22; another time eleven Kachins held a ridge against 100 Japs. Now the admiring womenfolk, garbed in silver bracelets, colored turbans, hand-woven jackets and lungis (bright-hued skirts), watched in fascinated silence while their warriors sang native chants and American hymns, danced and feasted in honor of many victories.