CHINA COAST WIDE OPEN

Dominion, Volume 38, Issue 232, 28 June 1945, Page 7

CHINA COAST WIDE OPEN

Enemy Leaves Further Stretch (British Official Wireless and Press Assn.) (Received June 27. 8.30 p.m.) NEW YORK, June 27. The Chinese High Command announced that .Chinese troops have advanced I 6 miles from Hwangyen along the “invasion coast - and reached Ninhai, 110 miles south-east of Hangchow. The Japanese have now been cleared from a 365-mile stretch of China s vulnerable coast. The Chinese are still fighting on the outskirts of Liuchow, and fierce fighting also continues near Lungnan, in Kiangsi Province.

In the Philippines zone [which is presumably the principal assembly base for an American army onslaught in China or Japan] the liquidation of the last enemy stronghold on the main island of Luzon is officially stated to be near.. The American forces converging on the enemy in the Cagayen Valley in the north of the island are now less than 20 miles apart. The advance has passed beyond the town of Tuguegarao, which guerrillas had held.

Tokio radio says that Allied troops have landed on Kmne, a small island 50 miles due west of Okinawa. Fierce fighting is in progress.

Japanese reports yesterday were still referring to an Allied invasion fleet—consisting of three battleships and 90 transports—assembled near captured Okinawa. The Japanese radio does not at present forecast an Allied leap to the coast of China; it speculates instead on an invasion of the Ainami islands, further up the Ryukyu chain, 100 miles south of Kyushu. On Okinawa itself, where mopping-up is still going on, 9498 prisoners have now been taken.

A medium force of Super-Fortresses has again bombed industrial targets in Honshu.

An official assessment of yesterday’s big raid reports results ranging from good to excellent against 10 key war factories. This assault was directed against the largest number of individual military aud industrial targets yet attacked in a single Super-Fortress mission. Five of the bombers were lost. The Japanese Prime Minister, Admiral Suzuki, in a speech, said: “The Americans’ arrogant counter-offensive is expected to be further intensified. The present crisis is the greatest since the Mongolian invasion of 1274.”

TOKIO REPEATS NEWS OF NEW BLOW

Balik Papan Situation

(Received June 27, 8 p.m.) WASHINGTON, June 26. Japanese broadcasts insisted today that a:. AllietJ invasion. Heel, possibly of SO ships, which was threatening Balik Papin, had' landed supplies there. Tokio radio said two supply ships landed cargo at Balik Papun on Sunday, but there were no troop landings. Tokio did not attempt to explain how supplies could be landed without invasion. This is the twelfth day that Tokio has reported Allied operations off Balik Papal). There is still no Allied confirmation. One broadcast reported that tlie Allies launched a fierce attack, reinforced by a cruiser, four destroyers and six minesweepers, when the supplies were lauded.

JAPS CLAIM SUCCESSES (Received June 27. 11.55 p.m.) NEW YORK, June 27.” Tokio radio says that one enemy cruiser was sunk and one damaged off Balik Paiuin. The Allied fleet included three cruisers, 19 destroyers. 14 patrol boats and nine submarine chasers.