OFFENSIVE IN CHINA

Press, Volume LXXX, Issue 24401, 30 October 1944, Page 3

OFFENSIVE IN CHINA

JAPANESE ATTACKING KWEILIN RENEWED THRUST FROM PINGNAM (Rec. 8 p.m.) CHUNGKING, Oct., 28. The Japanese opened an alt-out offensive against Kweilin on October 27, and are now attacking the Chinese positions on the city’s outskirts. The Japanese have also advanced six miles in a renewfed thrust west from Pingnam, and have struck westward from Foochow. The new Japanese offensive began after a long lull in which the'enemy regrouped his forces and built roads to bring - up The drive began with twin thrusts ddwn both sides of the Hunan-Kwapgsi railway. Another column swung south-west from Kwangyang, 50 miles east-north-east of Kweilin, with the ultimate aim of joining the general attack and bringing Kweilir? under pressure from two sides. The Japanese drove down the railway and the supporting column moved to outflank .Kweilin from the west. Other Japanese troops to protect the offensive’s left flank jabbed southward from Yungming, 75 miles east of Kweilin, and against Fuybwan, 35 miles away. The Japanese drive from Pingnam aimed at .the Liuchow air base. GeneratyJ. W. Stilwell’s communique says that 14th Air Force bombers on the night of October 26 probably sank a Japanese destroyer, and damaged a destroyer, a tanker, and a cargo vessel 75 miles west of Liuchow.