CRUSHING VICTORY

Evening Post, Volume CXXXII, Issue 83, 4 October 1941, Page 9

CRUSHING VICTORY

BLOW TO JAPAN'S

HOPE

SPRINGING OF THE TRAP

(Rec. 1 p.m.) LONDON, October 3. China's crushing victory in Hunan Pro\'ince 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 tune for their preparations in the Pacific. For Japan this defeat does not mean so much in men and 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. 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. JAPANESE ADVANCE. At least 100,000 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 he 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 annimlation. He says that 50,000 Japanese are still encircled by Chinese guerrillas, whiih are harrying the retreating Japanese and taking heavy toll. 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 j the vital railway junction of Chengchow and smashed the Chinese 98th divisions 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. , ' .