FAR EAST WAR

Greymouth Evening Star, 7 November 1944, Page 6

FAR EAST WAR

JAP. DRIVE CHECKED.

(Rec 10 a.m.) CHUNGKING, November 6. The Japanese northern drive towards Liuchow was halted 45 miles away, says a Chinese communique. Another reinforced' Japanese column from the east, reached’the vicinity of Hsuijen. 47 miles from Liuchow. There is brisk fighting in this area. A third epemy column is fighting in the suburbs of Mosun, 45 miles south of Liuchow. The Japanese attacked Kweilin yesterday from the east, but were thrown back with heavy losses. GEN. STILWELL’S TRANSFER.

NEW YORK, November 5. The Associated Press of America reports that Marshal Chiang Kai•shek, in his first public statement since General. Stilwell’s withdrawal, said: “President Roosevelt has already given an adequate explanation for General- Stilwell’s transfer, to which I have nothing to add. Prospects for effective Chinese and American military and economic cooperation are now excellent.” ARMISTICE~ALLEGED (Reed. Noon). LONDON, Nov. 6. The Russian journal “War and the Working Class” says a virtual state of armistice has been established m some sectors of the Chinese front as a result of the activities of reactionaries and defeatists in China. It adds that Japenese agents are trying to prolong the armistice. OPERATIONS ~IN BURMA. RUGBY. November 5. “Operations around Kennedy Peak on the White road are progressing satisfactorily,’' states a South-east Asia Command communique. “In Arakan Allied ariilleiy is again active against targets near Buthedaung. There was extensive air activity over several days culminating in an attack on targets on the outskirts of Rangoon on Saturday. One aircraft is missing.

GAMBIA’S ACTIVITIES

WELLINGTON, November 6

The Admiralty has given permission for the release in. Nev/ Zealand of the following additional details of operations in which the Gambia has taken part. As a unit of the Eastern Fleet, the Gambia in April of this year took part in an operation against Sabang, at the northern end of Sumatra, giving close anti-aircraft support to a carrier force which bombed the port ad town. Three weeks later the Gambia formed part of a carrierforce which carried out a successful operation against Sourabaya, Java, the cruiser giving close anti-aircrait support throughout the bombing of this enemy-held port. On July 25 the Gambia took part in. a second operation against Sabang. The port and enemy installations in the town were bombarded for 35 minutes with satisfactory results. A force of light craft under the command of Captain R. G. Onslow, D. 5.0., R.N., steamed into the harbour and took full advantage of/he opportunity of close range action. The Gambia, in the company of another cruiser of her class, carried out the duty of engaging Japanese coastal bateries to neutralise them and prevent them from inflicting damage on the light force. About half the officers of the Gambia are New Zealanders, but the proportion of New Zealanders among the men is considerably higher. The commander states that when _ the cruiser was commissioned, all New Zealand naval personnel, in the United Kingdom who were available at the. Time, were posted to her, and the balance filled with Royal naval men. In some technical branches, however, New Zealand ratings were too highly skilled for posting to a ship of this size, as their services, were urgently required for larger units of the Home flee I, and they could not be accepted.