FAR EAST FIGHTING

Greymouth Evening Star, 21 May 1943, Page 5

FAR EAST FIGHTING

CHINESE SUCCESSES

MORE U.S.A. PLANES IN 'USE CHUNGKING, May 20.

Chinese aircraft supporting the land forces battling with the Jap-anese-in the Hupeh-Hunan area today, pounded enemy troop concentrations and supply dumps at two strategic centres- south of the Yangtse. The Chinese “Central News” says that Chinese bombers, presumably American built, dropped tons of bombs on Chihkiang, 31 miles south-east of Ichang, and also on Yangchichen, causing heavy damage. Chinese fighters strafed positions in both towns, inflicting heavy casualties. One fighter did not return. The return to action of the Chinese Air Force after a long period of inactivity is believed to indicate that the,, promised American aid is reaching ’ Central China in larger quantities. A Chinese communique reports the continuation of bitter fighting in the suburbs of Chihkiang, with the situation unchanged. Fighting has slackened at Tsingshih and also at Lichow, but the outnumbered Chinese forces have withdrawn from Nanshuikai, north-west of Lichow. Chinese diversionary attacks north of the Yangtse have resulted in the recapture of several villages near Ichang and Kingmen. Five hundred Japanese were killed. The communique announces important Chinese successes in the Taihan Mountains, in Shansi Province, where the Japanese have been driven out of Linhsien and Hochieh. The Chinese in Southern Shansi have regained Peihengtou and are now threatening Linchwah. The Chinese continue to check 30,000 Japanese m Shangtung Province, who are driving against strongholds in the Yimeng Mountains south-east of Tsinan? The Chinese in Suiyuan Province have recaptured Sinchao, east of Paotow.

FRENCH KIGHTS

CHUNGKING, May 20. A Chinese Foreign Office spokesman announced that French tern torial rights in Pekin and Snangnai were considered nullified by the agreement concluded between \ wny and the Japanese puppet government for the transfer of the French concessions to the puppet regime. A strong protest has been lodgeo with the Vichy Charge d'Affaires m Chungking.

OPERATIONS IN BURMA

RUGBY. May 20. The complettion of a successful operation against the Japanese m Central Burma was announced by a Special India communique, wtiicfi states that the operation lasted more than three months, and was carried out by British Burma, Gurkha and Indian troops. . ‘•The force campaigned m the heait of Central. Burma since mid-reb-ruary, in enemy-controlled territory, oast of the Chindwin and Irrawaddy Rivers. Early in the year, units ol the Eastern Army, including Indian, Gurkha and Scottish troops, advanced from Assam on the border, ana established themselves at Chindwm, west of the river, and north of Nawlik. In this area patrol ascendancy was achieved against enemy parties operating in the vicinity, while heavy work proceeded on building and improving roads from across the Inman frontier. The force gained information and harassed the enemy continually, and also maintained contact with Burmese troops under the command of Brigadier O. C. Wingate, D.S.O. It had no supply hues and depended on what it could carry with it, on wireless communication, and on supplies dropped by the R.A.F. at intervals when the opportunity arose.” Enemy attempts to encircle the force failed and in several sharp encounters the Japanese suffered heavily. Many daring operations were carried out against the enemy, and the attention of large bodies of Japanese troops was thereby occupied. When orders were issued for the force to make a way out, concerted attempts were made by the Japanese to trap and overwhelm the columns, but the majority got through successfully, although in many cases under conditions of incredible hardship. The completion of this enterprise provided a unique experience of land and air co-operation in longrange jungle penetration. A Delhi communique says that American bombers dropped 125 tons of bombs on Japanese installations in Burma. This is a record weight of bombs for a single day’s operations in Burma.