CRUSHING DEFEAT IN HUNAN

Dominion, Volume 35, Issue 9, 6 October 1941, Page 8

CRUSHING DEFEAT IN HUNAN

Effect On Japanese RENEWED HOPE FOR CHINA LONDON, October 3. China’s crushing victory in Hunan Province dooms Japan's immediate hopes of diverting her forces against Soviet Siberia or to the south, says the Hong Kong correspondent of -the "Daily Mail. It gives renewed hope to China to fight on, and will help the Allies greatly in gaining time for their preparations in the Pacific. For Japan this defeat does not mean so much in men aud material, though this loss was heavy and will take much time to replace, as in morale inside Japan. The Japanese people, taxed, and sacrificing almost past endurance, have been murmuring, and the militarists hoped that this new offensive might end the war. Great Damage Caused. The Japanese offensive was launched a fortnight ago, and two major enveloping movements began from Hankow and Canton with the object of seizing the Hankow-Canton railway and Changsha, the main Chinese base and communications centre. At least 160,000 Japanese advanced from Hankow, preceded by waves of bombers, which caused enormous damage to Changsha. The Chinese General Hsueh-yueh did not fall into the trap of dividing his forces. He withdrew his main army of 300,000 men eight miles north of Changsha, where be outflanked the Japanese. . After a 48-hour battle, the Japanese retreated, leaving 40,000 dead and wounded. General Hsueh-yueh claims that the Japanese have been lured into a trap, and are now facing annihilation. He says that 30,000 Japanese are still encircled by Chinese guerrillas, which are harrying the retreating Japanese and taking heavy toll. Drive on Chengchow. The Shanghai bureau of the Associated Press says that the Japanese army claims that its drive in Hunan Province has reached within six miles of the vital railway junction of Chengchow, and smashed the Chinese 08th division. The Chinese are said to have lost 2000 killed, including the commander, General Wu-Shimin, and 5000 captured. The way, it is said, is now opened for the occupation of Chengchow. A special dispatch to Chungking from army headquarters asserts that the Japanese suffered 70,500 casualties in North Hunan Province, at the scene of Hie Changsha battle. A total of 33,000 Japanese bodies were found on the battlefield and only 790 Japanese officers tint! men were taken prisoner. The Shanghai correspondent of the Associated Press of America . states that the Japanese claim to have occupied Chengchow. Relieving the Pressure.

Competent observers express the opinion that the Japanese offensive against the Chinese in Hunan is designed more to relieve the pressure on the troops defeated at Changsha than for the reason given in the semiofficial statement —that it is part of the same campaign to obtain possession of the Haiikow-Cauton railway. The National Broadcasting Corporation of America picked up a message from Shanghai stating that the Japanese Ambassador at Washington, Admiral Nomura, has been instructed to Inform the United States Government that Japan is willing to withdraw from South C'nimi excepting the Hainan area. This withdrawal is conditional on the granting of certain unspecified concessions by the United .States.