NEW OFFENSIVE IN CHINA

Press, Volume LXXX, Issue 24270, 30 May 1944, Page 5

NEW OFFENSIVE IN CHINA

JAPANESE MOVE ON CHANGSHA THREAT TO SOUTHERN RAILWAY (Rec. 7 p.m.) CHUNGKING. May 28. The Japanese have reopened a front in China on the border of the Province of Hunan, which has been the battleground for two earlier attempts to beat back the Chinese from the area of Lake Tungting. While'they have been lighting since early in April to clear the Hankow-Peiping railway in the north, in the Honan Province, the new drive is aimed at the Hankow-Canton section of the line* which runs north and south through China. One force has started from Yochow, which is on the railway where it runs near Lake Tungting. Another has started about 50 miles to the east. “After sweeping through the Honan Province for the last 40 days the Japanese have launched simultaneous at-

tacks from the Tungting Lake area, and are attempting to occupy the entire Canton-Hankow railway,” says a Chinese commtmique. “Four columns arc moving south in the general direction of Changsha. Fighting is raging east and west of Tsingkang, 20 miles south of Yochow. A' large number of Japanese troops were concentrated at Yochow, and on Saturday night four groups crossed the Tsingkang river. Our troops intercepted them, and fighting is proceeding. “The Japane-e in south Hupeh, moving to the south-west front Tsuagyaiig (55 miles east of Yochow), have reached Kweikowshan, about 12 miles southwest of Tsungyang. After the arrival of reinforcements the enemy continued to advance in the direction of Tnngcheng <25 miles south-west of Tsungyang);' The Chinese at the town of Honan have counter-attacked, and fighting is taking place on the roads leading from the town, says a message from Chungking. The Japanese suffered heavy casualties. Fighting is progressing at Tashaping. north of Tungcheng. Bombing of Targets in France.—“ The French nation would not wish the success of Allied arms to be imperilled by failure to disrupt German communications," says the British Homan Catholic Hierarchy, replying to the French cardinals' plea to spare civilians in the Allied bombing of France. The reply, which is signed by the Roman Catholic archbishops of England and Wales and the Archbishop of Edinburgh, was broadcast over the 8.8.C.’s European service. It was pointed out that the British (government had given piloU repeated instructions to keen damage to sacred buildings and civilian deaths within the smallest limits.—London, May 28“