FAR EAST

Greymouth Evening Star, 20 May 1943, Page 5

FAR EAST

FIGHTING IN CHINA

CHUNGKING, May 19

Bitter fighting is raging in the suburbs of Chihkiang, where the Chinese are battling to outflank the Japanese offensive in the Tungting lake region of Hunan, according to a Chinese communique. The communique says that the enemy forces holding Chihkiang received 5000 or 6000 reinforcement’s following a savage Chinese attack in which 1000 of the enemy were killed and heavy booty was taken. Heavy casualties continue to be inflicted by both sides. The communique says the Chinese are holding Japanese thrusts west of the Tungting lake at Tsingshih. The Chinese, counter-attacking in the Taihan mountains, seized the town of Tunghaotsi and are now pushing into the outskirts of Linhsien, in west central Shansi Province, which the Japanese captured last month.

JAP. PLANES DESTROYED

RUGBY, May 18

It is reported from LieutenantGeneral J. W. Stilwell’s headquarters, according to a Chungking message, that United States fighters destroyed seven Japanese fighters and two bombers, and probably destroyed 10 other enemy machines, when the enemy attempted to raid an advanced American air base in Hunan Province on Monday. The damage to the base was negligible, but some nearby villages were damaged. All the American aeroplanes returned.

OPERATIONS IN BURMA,

LONDON, May 19.

To-day’s communique from . India reports renewed patrol activity on the Arakan front in Burma, with several clashes in which the enemy had ‘the worst of it.

Continued Royal Air Force attacks are reported against Japanese bases on positions in 'Burma. At least 12 enemy supply sampans were destroyed and many others damaged in raids on Japanese transport on the Arakan coast.