JAP OFFENSIVE

Grey River Argus, 23 May 1942, Page 5

JAP OFFENSIVE

AGAINST CHINA

Knock-out Attempt

NEW LANDING NEAR FOOCHOW

[Aust. & N-Z. Cable A win.) LONDON, May 21

The Associated tress Association reports tnat the Japanese, apparently intent on knocking out China, or at least, seizing the wrward areas irom which Japan might be attacked, supplemented their broad offensive m the Chekiang Province, with a landing in force on the north Oank beiow Foochow under cover of a barrage b v escorting warships. fine Japanese are believed to number about 1>5,000 troops in tlm Chekiang, Fukien, and Kiangshi provinces., Tnc Foochow action created a second highly active front in the ChekiangFukien seaboard area, and constituted a new threat at the rear of the Chinese forces. The American Press correspondent at Chungking reports that, the Chinese Hign Command announced today that Japanese troops had landed near Foochow, and engaged in heavy fighting iWith the Chinese defence forces. The invading force arrived from a dozen transports, which proceeded up the Min River near Foochow city. The Japanese have continued intensive bombing of important communication centres in the Chekiang, Fukein, Kiangsi, Hunan, and Kwangsi Provinces. The attacks were heaviest at Kian, Hangchow, and Kweilin.

Japanese Search FOR CHINESE AIR BASES (Rec. 12.40) NEW YORK, May 21. The “New York Times” Chungking correspondent expresses the opinion that the present Japanese drive in Chekiang Province aims to destroy possible -springboards for Allied air attacks against Japan. He says that the Japanese had made twenty-two, raids, using 554 planes, since April 18, in searching for fields where the American bombers landed after bombing Tokio. It is now reported that in the land campaign Japan is employing an' advance force of from twenty to thirty thousand men, who carry out the attack in Chekiang from a base in Henchow. The correspondent explains that subsidiary motives for attack against Chekiang are an effort to blockade China, and also to eliminate guerrillas. who have been increasing!,?., endangering the Japanese position.

Japanese Advancing

IN CHEKIANG.

NEW YORK, Mav 21. Four Japanese columns, totalling about 80,000 troops, half of whom are held in reserve, are advancing on the Chekiang front, and have reached a point’ 50 miles from Kinhwafu, states a Chungking message. Another Japanese force is massing at Nanchang, in support of the Chekiang thrust.

NEW BATTLE FOR CHANGSHA.

NEW YORK, May 21. Heavy Japanese forces are also concentrating on the Yangtze River bases near Hankow, possibly as , a forerunner of an effort to occupy the entire railway betwen Hankow and Canton, entailing a fourth battle for Changsha. The Japanese have three times entered Changsha, but have been driven out each time.

CHINESE COUNTER ATTACK.

LONDON, May 21

The United Press reports that Chinese counter-attacks have thrown back the enemy southward' of Hangchow and Ningpo. JAP. STEAMER MINt-D (Rec. 7.5). WASHINGTON, Mav 21. The Chungking official radio said that a Japanese steamship headed upstream in- the Yangtze River, struck a mine! and blew up. JAP. INVASION OF YUNNAN.

LONDON, Mav 21

The United Press reports that on the western Yunnan front, the Chinese captured Kanianchai and seized large quantities of booty. •

In Burma

ALLIED AIR ACTIVITY.

LONDON, May 21.

A Burma communique from New Delhi says that Royal Air Force bombers in Burma are continuing their attacks against the enemy m the Chindwin river area near Kalewa. Waterfront buildings, a steamer. and barges were bombed, and other craft machine-gunned. Craft at the mouth of the Mayn river were also bombed and machintgunned. A review of the activities of Allies air forces in Burma received from Calcutta shows an increase in attacks on the Japanese. In the first half of this month, there, was an average of two attacks daily, and the objectives included aerodromes, transport and troops, and enemy supplies must have been seriously disturbed. In a most successful river transport attack six barges were hit and probablv destroyed at Monywa, on the Chindwin Rivsr. The Magwe and Akyab aerodromes have been repeatedly bombed.

Americans bombed Rangoon docks and Mingaiadon aerodrome. A feature of the fighting is that the Jananese use night fighters, which have met iwith no. success in the encounters with the Americans. Chinese in Burma MOVE TO INDIAN BORDER. (Rec. 9.10). CHUNGKING. Mav 21. General Stilwell’s headquarters will now be established somewhere near the boundary of the inner section between Burma and India. A China newspaper, the “Takung,” said that the necessary personnel is proceeding to theinew headquarters by air from China and India, and all of the Chinese technical and transportation staffs, heretofore operating in Burma, will be withdrawn tb India. JAPAN’S ASIATIC PLANS. NEW YORK. May 21. The Tokio official radio announced that General Hayashi, former Premier and senior of the military cli-

que, has been named as President of the Asia Development Federation. The Domei Agency announced that the Federation has organised separate bureaux to handle ideological problems relating to Manchukuo, North China, Inner Mongolia, Central China and the southern regions.

THAILAND KING.

NEW YORK, May 21

The Tokio official radio announced that the Thai Government has asked the young King Ananda Mahidol to return from Switzerland, in order to learn Japanese, and to. familiarise himself with the relations between Thailand and Japan. Soviet and Japan FORMER’S OBJECTION TO U.S.A. USING VLADIVOSTOCK ROUTE. NEW YORK, May 21. Russia will not permit the delivery of planes from the United States to Siberia, via Alaska, says the “Daily News” Washington correspondent. Alaskan bases are prepared and the Army and Air Force ferrying commands are ready to use this route, but the Soviet reaction was not quite “sympathetic.” Mr Roosevelt ana Mr Hull are anxious to avoid tne longer and more dangerous Muimansk route, for planes being sent to Russia, but they understand that the Soviet cannot afford to fight on two fronts, so the route across t. Bering Sea will not be used until t ic Japanese attack Russia, or both Murmansk and Persian Gulf i are severed.

JAP. AIR RAID IN INDIA.

LONDON, May 21. A Japanese air attack on Indian territory is recorded in a communique from New Delhi, which state.that bombs were dropped on May lb, on a peaceful rural locality in eas - ern Assam. Casualties were light and the conduct of the inhabitants Avas quite steady.