RECONQUEST OF TARAKAN

Press, Volume LXXXI, Issue 24581, 1 June 1945, Page 5

RECONQUEST OF TARAKAN

BITTER CAMPAIGN REVIEWED ALLIED FOOTHOLD IN EAST INDIES (N.Z. Press Association-Copyright) (Rec.Bp.rn.) WASHINGTON, May 30. Slimming up-the - Allied campaign on Tarakan Island, Borneo, a correspondent on Tarakan says:— . , . . ■“The reoonquest of the island has not been a .walkover. Japanese resistance was strong, and every foot of ground has had to be wrested from the enemy. The Japanese had dug several tunnels, some of which were nearly 200 yards long, with various exits enabling the enemy to continue harassing operations at night. ’■ "For some time a Netherlands detachment and an adjoining Australian detachment were entirely cut off from the main source of supply. By their landing operations in the south, the Netherlander forced the Japanese to abandon the southern area, in which searchlight batteries and radar installations were found intact. Apparently the Japanese had used this coastal area as a centre for naval operations. “Meanwhile the Australians have been involved in severe fighting against the Japanese. Every conceivable weapon had had to be used to break the bitter Japanese resistance. Crack troops of the Australian 9th Division did a thorough job. With Tarakan’s conquest the westernmost Allied foothold- in the Netherlands East Indies has been firmly established.” MORE GAINS BY CHINESE LIEUCHOW BASE THREATENED CAPTURE OP COASTAL TOWN CHUNGKING, May 30, - "Chinese troops have reached the vicinity of Ishen, on the KweichowKwangsi railway, 43 miles west of the Japanese base of Lieuchow. which is also threatened by Chinese forces advancing from Nanning," says a Chinese High Command communique, “The enemy is evacuating a number of towns." “On the Fukien front Chinese troops have recaptured Ningteh, on the coast, 40 miles north of the treaty

port of Foochow. The Japanese are retreating in the direction of Siaopu, 30 miles north-east of Ningteh. "In western Hunan Province -the Chinese flanks have made slight gains west of Paoching, a former supply base south-west of Changsha, \ “North of the Yangtse, in Honan Province, the Chinese have continued to attack northward towards Chanhsien, on the/ Launghia railway, 50 miles east of the Yellow river bank, regaining all the positions they held on May 18. In the southern part of the province, the Chinese have reached a point three miles outside Hsihsiakpwc g .Japanese bastion 400' miles north-east of Chungking. Other units which crossed the Laikwan river continue to attack in the direction of Hsihsiakow.”; GOVERNMENT OF* CHINA DR. T. V. SOONG NOW PRIME MINISTER (Rec. 11.15 p.m.) LONDON, May 31. It is announced in Chungking that Marshal Chiang Kai-shek has resigned office as Prime Minister of China and has been succeeded by Dr. T. V. Soong. Marshal Chiang’s resignation does not affect his position as President of China and head of the State. Dr. Soong, who is Vice-President of the Executive Yuan and-a former Minister of Foreign Affairs, headed the Chinese delegation to the United Nations Conference in San Francisco, The new. Vice-President of the Executive Yuan is Dr. Wong Wen-hao, the Minister of Economic Affairs and head of China’s War Production Board. “Dr. - Soong’s elevation so soon to the Premiership has raised the possibility that he might attend the impending meeting of the Big Five," says a Chungking message. “It would also give him greater face if ,he makes his expected visit to Moscow on his way back to China from San Francisco.” BRITAIN AND WAR IN PACIFIC ATTITUDE UNCHANGED BY ELECTION (Rec. 6.5 p.m.) LONDON, May 30. The former First Lord of the Admiralty (Mr A. V. Alexander), in a speech, declared that no political change in Britain would alter Britain’s resolve to give 100 per cent, support to the against Japan. “There still seems to be a tendency on the American continent to be a little anxious about our attitude because we are in the process of a change of Government, and are moving toward a General Election,” said Mr Alexander. "There is no party whatsoever in Britain to-day, nor is there any form of government which can arise as a result of the General Election which will not be 100 per cent, in support of the most ruthless and most urgent prosecution of the war. against Japan so that the Axis in the realm of dictatorshio will be finished once and for all.” Commenting that it was a pity, when great deliverance was so near, that the nations could not come closer together, Mr Alexander pleaded that the future dispositions of a territory and its administration should be left to the peace conference instead of action being taken on the basis of immediate possession being nine-tenths of the law. COMMON WEALTH PARTY THIRTY-TWO CANDIDATES ' LONDON, May 30. The Common Wealth Party has issued a list of 32 candidates who will contest seats in the coming British election. The party has also opened an election fighting fund appeal for £25,000. ■ As a general rule, the party will not contest constituencies where Labour candidates are standing. King Leopold's Health.—A United States Army surgeon, Captain Ardue, who attended King Leopold of the Belgians after he was freed, told correspondents that the King would completely recover from the effects of his five years’ confinement. He had made positive progress on a balanced diet and daily exercise since his liberation. —London, May 30.