CHINESE HAMMER AT YOCHOW

Press, Volume LXXVIII, Issue 23541, 20 January 1942, Page 5

CHINESE HAMMER AT YOCHOW

Important Japanese Base CHANGSHA AREA CLEARED (Received January 19, 9.30 p.m.) (U.P.A.) CHUNGKING, January 18. The Chinese forces pursuing the decimated Japanese units in Hunan are 70 miles north of Changsha, and are hammering at the outer defence lines! of Yochow, the important Japanese Yangtse river base, the fall of which would compel the Japanese to withdrawn to Hankow, says a Chinese army communique. The Chinese in the north of the Hunan Province have regained complete control of the whole region extending fom Changsha north across j three rivers to the first lines of the, Japanese defences. j Fighting continues in the Ichang; area, in Hupeh Province, north-west,’ of Yochow. ; .■mother Chungking communique | said that 75 per cent, of the Japanese | troops, estimated at 100,(100. who participated in the battle for Changsha, were killed or wounded. Chinese authorities located the wrecks of three Japanese bombers shot, down by American volunteers in a re- 1 cent battle. 1 The newspaper “Ta Kung-pao” paid tribute to the Americans, praising their great success in protecting Rangoon and adding that in the Yunnan Province they had made the Burma read impregnable. ALLIES’ POLICY IX PACIFIC Chinese Spokesman’s Statement NEED FOR MORE FORCES AT SINGAPORE CHUNGKING, January 18. Dr Sun Fo, chairman of the legisla-; tive branch of the Chinese Govern- 1 merit, has declared; "If England and ( America intend to allow Japan a free, rein in the Far East while they defeat j Hitler in Europe, there is grave doubt j as to the wisdom of China’s continuing; to fight. "If it is the policy of the united' nations to remain solely on the defensive in the Pacific, it would seem to be a broad hint to China to sit tight, thereby ending the suffering and bloodshed here, at least until Hitler is eliminated. "If China is forced into inaction, Japan can withdraw 10 to 20 divisions from China for use in the South Seas, Burma, and oven India.’’ Dr. Sun expressed the belief that Japan could be beaten before Hitler had time to reorganise his defeated forces in Russia, but ho stated that Britain and America must send reinforcements to enable Singapore to hold out and to strike towards Janan in Thailand and Inrio-China, using Chinese troops in Burma.

CONTROL OF THE| BURMA ROAD

Responsibility of U.S. Miss'i> LEND-LEASE SUPPLIES FOR CHINA LONDON, January 18. The Burma road has been placed under the supreme control of the United States military mission headed by General John Magrudcr with headquarters at Chungking, reports the Rangoon correspondent of the “Daily Express.’’ General Magrudcr henceforth will dictate priorities for goods, although the Chinese will police the road. /. representative of the Chinese purchasing mission in Washington has cabled an assurance that 20.000 tons of American lend-lease supplies will be landed every month throughout 1042 at (ho southern terminus of the Burma road. It is reported from Chungking that four American fighter aeroplanes guarding the Burma road shot down three Japanese in a dog-light southeast of Yunnan Province.

DETAINED IN ENGLAND

PRIME MINISTER OF BURMA LONDON. January 18. The Prime Minister of Burma (U Sawi has been detained in England and will not be allowed to return to Burma. It was learned that he had been in contact with lire Japanese authorities

since the outbreak of the war with Japan. U Saw arrived in London three months ago- to determine the status of Burma. When lie left England he made no secret of the fact that he was disappointed and dissatisfied. He was in Honolulu when the Japanese attacked Hawaii, and was returned to England.