JAPANESE CARRY WAR UP YANGTSE

Press, Volume LXXVI, Issue 23089, 3 August 1940, Page 12

JAPANESE CARRY WAR UP YANGTSE

Rapid Advance in Central China

EFFORT TO FINISH WAR

[By H. G. W. WOODHEAD, Far Eastern Correspondent ot “The Press."]

Latest, operations of the Japanese Army in Central China are discussed in the following article. The army is making an effort to

finish off the war against the Chungking forces.

Reports from both Chinese and Japanese headquarters in May and June have indicated that large-scale military operations have been in progress in the Han river valley. But they have been so conflicting in their claims that it was not until the capture of Shasi and Ichang. by the Japanese Army was confirmed that their full significance was realised. Even now it is by no means easy to piece together the narrative of the latest Japanese offensive, for though many Chinese claims appear to have been exaggerated, or misleading, the cattle seems to have swayed backwards and forwards for days on end, especially near Siangyang and Tsaoyang. The Japanese “push” appears to have been launched on May 3 from Sinyang, on the Peiping-Hankow railway just inside the Honan border, Suihsien some distance south-west, and Anlu southeast of Suihsien. Within 10 days the Japanese had virtually encircled and inflicted a crushing defeat upon General Tang Er-po’s army, while TungEeh, the headquarters of General Sun ien-cheng, 60 kilometres west of Sinyang, had been surrounded. It was following these operations that Chungking claimed that Chinese armies had won a series of victories. It was asserted that Siangyang, which the Japanese had occupied, had been retaken on May 11, and that on May 13 the Japanese were in full retreat. On May 16 the Chinese further claimed to have recaptured Tsaoyang, which was admittedly retaken by a Japanese counter-attack on May 19. The Japanese explanation of these alleged Chinese victories was that the remnants of General Tang Er-po’s and the whole of General Chang Tzu-chang’s armies had been lured into a trap, surrounded, and practically annihilated. Rapid Gains The Japanese crossed the Han river on May 19-22, and pushed on to Kingmen, which they occupied about June 6. They then forced their way down the Kingmen-Shasi highway, and occupied Shasi itself on June 8. Meanwhile other columns pushed on westward in the direction of Ichang, which the Japanese authorities requested

shelters, limited the number of civilian casualties.

The incessant bombing of Chungking was publicly condemned by Mr Cordell Hull, and formed the subject of a formal protest by the American Ambassador at Tokyo. But the only result was a warning to Third Power diplomatic representatives that in view of the establishment of military positions near their nationals’ properties. these nationals should withdraw to safety zones to escape possible injury from Japanese air raids. The Japanese Foreign Minister gave assurances that no attacks would be made upon certain areas on the south bank of the Yangtse, opposite Chungking. These areas presumably include the premises in which the American Embassy staff is lodged. The British, French, and Soviet Ambassadors have maintained their offices inside or close to the city.

Extension of Control

The capture of Ichang extends Japan’s military control of the Yangtse to a distance of 965 miles from the sea. It brings the spearhead lof the Japanese advance within 462 miles of Chungking. An advance upon the war capital by river or overland, however, would present apparently insuperable difficulties. Navigation of 'the famous gorges is a difficult operation even in normal times, and ought to be quite impracticable if any organised resistance is encountered. The journey overland from Ichang requires more than three weeks of most difficult trave over roadless and mountainous country. It would not be feasible as a military operation unless it were entirely unopposed. And difficulties of maintaining communications at every stage . would make it a most hazardous venture. Moreover as a military objective Chungking, can no longer be considered of serious importance. If « were physically possible to oCC .upy 1 > General Chiang Kai-shek would presumably move his and the Govern ment’s headquarters to some more remote and inaccessible centre. The aauy, bombings, though they must wracking experiences for all who re main do not seem to have ffie National Governments will to resist,' but rather to have intensified it. Th occupation of Ichang may lead to more intensive bombing. «*- pears now to remain of the city, ex cent its cave shelters, and nature, the form of the gorges, has Prided the only practicable approach with de fences stronger than any man-made fortifications. . , The drive on Shasi and Ichang, however. is significant evidence of the Japanese Army s reaction to the gro ing demand in Japan for the termination of Sino-Japanese hostilities. It is, of course, something of a feat to have moved another 370 miles up river from the Wu-Han cities, though Ichang itself has lost most of its importance since the closing of- the lower Yangtse. What prosperity it has enjoyed in recent years has been mainly because it is the junction for lower ana upper river steamers. It has < been a trans-shipment rather than a productive centre, dependent upon the trade of Szechwan. Its occupation, preceded by that of Shasi, will compel tne Chunking Government to find alternative routes for supplies and commodities which have hitherto come from Hunan by the waterways connecting the Tungting Lake with the Yangtse. But strategically its loss is of little importance & Chungking, whjch remains inaccessibfe unless Japanese transport aeroplanes can land sufficient troops on the Chengtu plain to overpower-local Chinese resistance. Even if the Japanese forces possessed sufficient steamers of the special type required for upper river navigation to transport an expeditionary force through the gorges and the rapids, a mere handful of men with a few hundred-weight of dynamite ought to be able to make the passage impossible.

Third Power shipping to evacuate. Ichang was heavily bombed on June 10 and the city stormed the following day. The 12 day campaign which ended with the capture of Ichang resulted in the capture of 3513 prisoners, 44 guns, 150 machine-guns and 2895 rifles. Upwards of 50,000 Chinese are said to have been slain during this offensive. It is not known how. strong a Japanese force took part in the Shasi-Ichang drive, but Chinese estimates placed its strength at 150,000 men with 400 tanks and 200 aircraft. While these operations were in progress, Japanese aircraft bombed Chungking daily whenever weather conditions permitted. Aerial attacks were made both by day and by night, and enormous material damage was done, though the evacuation of the bulk of the civilian population, and the honeycombing of the rocky promontory, on which the city stands with air raid