5000 TRUCKS.

Auckland Star, Volume LXXI, Issue 245, 15 October 1940, Page 8

5000 TRUCKS.

PETROL SUPPLIES. Ready For Reopening Of Burma Road. United Press Association. —Copyright. (Reed. 2.30 p.m.) LONDON, Oct. 14. A message from Kangoon says war materials, including American gasoline, are being concentrated on the Burma frontier in preparation for the reopening of the road to China. At least 300,000 gallons of gasoline and 5000 trucks are on the frontier, while 150,000 gallons of gasoline and 1000 trucks are at Rangoon. Chinese troops are gathering at the frontier to escort the trucks. The authorities hope to increase the road's freight capacity from 300 to 500 tons daily. A Domei (Japanese) News Agency! correspondent at an undisclosed air base said on Monday six squadrons made a surprise raid on Wanhsien, in Szechwan Province, and devastatingly bombed military positions and destroyed Chinese artillery positions near Ichang. Chinese foreign advices from Kunming report that 27 Japanese planes bombed, strafed and virtually levelled Kunming on Sunday. There were a few casualties. Most people sheltered in the British and German Consulates. An earlier report said the United States Consulate was slightly damaged and windows of the British and German Consulates were shattered when Japanese aircraft made a dive-bombing attack. An immense pall of smoke hung over the city after the bombardment.