FAR EAST WAR

Greymouth Evening Star, 22 July 1942, Page 6

FAR EAST WAR

JAPS. RETAKE WENCHOW

LONDON, July 21. A Chinese spokesman in Chungking admitted that the port of Wenchow, in Chekiang Province, was recaptured by the Japanese 24 hours after it was retaken by the Chinese. The Japanese first took the port 10 days ago. The “China Central News” says a widespread and well-organised guerrilla campaign has opened in the province of Chekiang and Kiangsi, where many peasants are armed. Japanese efforts at the suppression of the guerrillas have been unsuccessful. Enemy positions on the ChekiangKiangsi railway and on nearby highways and rivers are constantly harassed. CHINESE TRY AGAIN CHUNGKING, July 21. Severe fighting around Wenchow is reported in a communique. The Chinese cut the enemy’s supply lines, and killed 300 Japanese in an engagement near Juian. The Chinese are said to be gaining the upper hand in an endeavour to expel the Japanese from Wenchow for the second time. CHINA’S MAN-POWER (Recd. 10) CHUNGKING, July 21. General Cheng Taehjen, Director of Conscription, in a statement said: “China will need two million additional soldiers annually for the next three years.” JAPANESE SHIPS SUNK

LONDON, July 21. I A communique from the headquarters of the United States Air Force in China says that 20 American bombers with fighter escort sank four Japanese vessels of between 1200 and 2000 tons on a river in the Kiangsi Province.

(Recd. 10 a.m.) CHUNGKING, July 21. General Stilwell’s headquarters announce that United States bombers sank two Japanese ships, totalling 4,000 tons, in the Yangtse River, 90 miles north of Nanchang. All of the planes returned undamaged.

SUPPLIES FROM U.S.A.

LONDON, July 21

Mr Lauchlin Currie conferred with General Chiang Kai-shek. The spokesman said that Mr Currie’s visit will be even more fruitful than the first. China was putting every ounce of energy into the war, but still her needs remained which could be filled only from outside. China would ask from Mr Currie more planes, and also a rather long list of other war tools.