JAP. REVERSE IN YUNNAN

Greymouth Evening Star, 20 May 1942, Page 5

JAP. REVERSE IN YUNNAN

CLEARING BURMA ROAD “SITUATION QUITE GOOD” LONDON, May 10. The Chinese forces in Yunnan are pushing the Japanese back to the Burma Road. A Chungking communique reports the wiping out of Japanese remnants on the west bank of the Salween River north of Lungling. The Chinese Expeditionary Force in Burma, which is still intact except for one division, is reported to be building new bases in the rugged fastnesses of northern and eastern Burma to harass the Japanese, who are clinging to the roads and railways. Another Chungking communique states that the west bank of the broad mountain walled Salween River barring the eastward advance of the Japanese up the Burma Road has been cleared of the enemy and his columns wiped out or driven back to Lungling. Some 250 miles southward, however, extremely heavy fighting is in progress as the reinforced Japanese have attacked from three directions, in an apparent effort to drive up from Thailand between the Salween and the Mekong to flank the Salween defenders. The Japanese reverse along the Salween was announced after fierce artillery fire had been exchanged for days across the formidable barrier which the Japanese did not dare to attempt to cross. Instead Chinese reinforcements were flung across the Salween from the east, and in a bitter struggle the main Japanese forces were thrust back all the way to Lungling, 20 miles distant, and the remnants which clung to positions at Mailaopu and Hungmushu were wiped out. A message from Washington states that the Foreign Minister (Dr. T. V. Soong) reported to Mr. Roosevelt that Chinese troops in Burma had destroyed all the Japanese forces that had crossed the Salween in the Yunnan Province. Dr. Soong described the military situation there as quite good. JAPANESE REINFORCED LONDON, May 19. A Chungking spokesman stated that enemy reinforcements were massing on the border of IndoChina and Yunnan. This indicated that the next major offensive might be against China. The spokesman said that China would need all possible aid, particularly aircraft. In Burma the Royal Air Force bombed the Japanese-occupied port of Akyab yesterday and also attacked enemy river craft and other targets in the Chindwin river area north of Kalewa. FUTURE “VERY GRAVE.” (Recd. 9.55 a.m.) CHUNGKING, May 19. The Government spokesman revealed there was increasing evidence that the Japanese were on the verge of a large scale offensive against China. He described China’s outlook in the immediate future as very grave. “We need all the possible help, especially planes from our Allies. This aid must be dispatched urgently, to enable us to cope with the enemy on the Yunnan border. Likewise the situation at Chekiang is increasingly perilous, the enemy having reinforced the original 30,000, with which he began the offensive there.” GAS BOMB-FOUND. (Rec. 12.30 p.m.) NEW YORK, May 19. The Chungking official radio quoted the Central News report that an unexploded gas bomb, dropped by a Japanese airplane, has been found in the Shensi Province. The bomb weighed 2001b5., and was 140 centimetres high and 27 centimetres thick. It has been taken by a removal squad to the anti-aircraft headquarters.

BRITISH WITHDRAWAL

LONDON, May 19

An Indian Army spokesman, describing the withdrawal of the British troops from the Kolewa area some days ago, said that two. infantry brigades of the 17th Division sang “Old Man River” as they sighted the Chindwin river. They were met byRoyal Marines who. were ferrying materials over the river. The monsoon was about to break and the river had risen three feet. The old jetty was unusable, but sappers and miners built another.

The troops marched through Kalewtv, drew rations, and made camp in the jungle. They struck northwards, the movement starting at dusk along a track fit only for mountain goats. The jungle was lit by the flashes of the guns in the rear and frequently mules lost their foothold and fell down the steep slopes. The spokesman concluded by saying: “The 17th Division was intact, in order, and in high spirits.” AKYAB AGAIN BOMBED.

RUGBY, May 19

A New Delhi communique states: The R.A.F. yesterday bombed Akyab aerodrome, and enemy river craft and other targets in the Chindwin Valley. No further land operations are reported.

CHINESE AIRCRAFT NEEDS

OTTAWA, May 19

Major-General Shen, commanding Chinese air training in the United States, who is attending the Air Training Conference, told the Press that China has built bases from which aeroplanes can easily bomb Tokio and other Japanese cities :>s soon as she received the necessary aircraft. Major-General Shen said there were many trained pilots in China, hut they were idle because the aeroplanes were lacking. Asked if China could keen on fighting now that the Burma Road was closed, Maior-General Shen replied: “Wo can. We have been fighting for five years.” He added that the Japanese could not stand a long war because their industries and resources were insufficient Japanese air losses were serious, because the Japanese aircraft industry was not large. TYPHUS AT SHANGHAI.

RUGBY. May 19

Vichy radio said that 20.00 Q bodies were picked up in the streets of Shanghai, as the result of an outbreak of typhus. SOVIET AMBASSADOR. LONDON. May 19. The Moscow radio announced that M. Smetanin has been relieved of his post as Soviet Ambassador at Tokio (from which be has been absent for some time), with a view to his appointment elsewhere. M. Mya Malik will succeed him as Soviet Ambassador to Japan. PUNJABVDACOITS.

(Rec. 12.30 p.m.) LONDON, May 19. ’ A Karachi report says that 24 persons were killed' and 30 injured, when Dacoits derailed the Punjab Mail, going at ton speed at night. The Dacoits removed' fishplates, cut telegraph wires, fired on the passengers and stole money and clothing. A mobile column captured six Dacoits.