FIGHTING IN CHINA

Greymouth Evening Star, 17 May 1943, Page 6

FIGHTING IN CHINA

JAPANESE CASUALTIES CHUNGKING, May 15. A Chinese Army communique states that the -Chinese killed more than 3000 and captured 12 towns in the fighting west and south oi the Taihan Mountains. Their success followed the transfer of the majority of the Chinese troops in this area to the enemy’s rear where they executed a counter encircling move against 10,000 Japanese who were attempting to surround a large body of Chinese. There is no change on the lungting lake front, but the communique admitted that the Japanese have made progress west of the Salween An earlier communique stated that bitter confused fighting continued south of the Yangtse River where the Japanese are attempting to overrun the Chnese strongholds along tru west shore of the Tungting Lake. One Japanese column 4000 strong is advancing westward from ihe nor tn shore towards Tsingshih and Lihsien, and another column is driving towards Kungan. The Japanese yesterday made air raids on Tsinghih, Lihsien, and other towns. North of the Yangtse the Chinese successfully attacked enemy positions at Icfiang, Kingmen, Tangyang, and Yunnan. The Chungking authorities announce that famine is exacting a heavy toll of life in the drought belt fringing practically the entire coast of the Kwangtung Province. Two hundred thousand have migrated to Kiangsi seeking food. Rice in drought area costs 15/- a P°V n /i Most of the inhabitants are obligee! to eat bark.

JAPS. IN INDIA ?

RUGBY, May 15. An Indian communique states that there is nothing to report from the Arakan front in Burma. The Rome radio states that two Japanese columns advancing from Maungdaw have deeply penetrated Indian territory in the direction of Cox’s Bazaar and Chakina, a supply base 46 miles soutn-east of iChitta- - The Indian communique states that on Friday Royal Air Force Hurricanes machine-gunned Japanese troops and water transport in the Buthedaung area. Other fighters attacked shipping off Ramree Island, and supply sampans on the Kalandan river. On Friday night our medium bombers attacked Kangaung aerodrome. Bombs were seen to burst on the target area and fires were left burning. From these operations all our aircraft returned. U.S.A. BOMBINGS “rugby, May 16. A United States communique from New Delhi states that American heavy bombers yesterday attacked the railway terminus at Lashio (Burma). Bombs fell well on the target area. In Central Burma Americans bombed railroad targets near Mandalay. Railway targets at Alon, near Monywa, and Nankin, near Katha, were also bombed. All the American aircraft returned.