STEADY ADVANCE

Grey River Argus, 18 June 1942, Page 5

STEADY ADVANCE

JAPANESE COLUMNS In South China [Aust. & N.Z. Cable awf i (Rec. 8.45) CHUNGKING, June 16. The Chinese have. abandoned Kwangfeng. They did so after a battle lasting all night, in which there were one thousand Japanese casualties.

The enemy has continued his advance to the westward.

The railway gap between two of the Japanese columns is now less than 80 miles. The Chinese seized the initiative in the Nancheng region. They are now stroming tne city, which the Japanese captured recently. Heavy fighting has revived along the middle Yangtse' River, in the Hupeh province. There the Japanese have entered Hosueh, where fierce fighting continues. The Chinese spokesman called, urgently, for an immediate big offensive as the Chinese fight with dogged fury to prevent the Japanese pincers from closing on the Chekiang railway. He stressed the urgency of not allowing the Japanese to rest. He added: “If J’apan is regarded complacently, she might become the most difficult Axis Power to defeat.” CHUNGKING, June 16. The Chinese Cabinet met to discuss a report that a Japanese invasion of Siberia was imminent. Increasing numbers of Japanese troops are stated to be pouring into Manchuria.

The Chinese military spokesman acknowledged the Japanese were steadily advancing along the Che-kiang-Kiangsi railway, but the Chinese are still holding 80 miles of the middle section between Yingtun and Shangjao, calmly resisting the Japanese huge pincer movement, according to prearranged plans. The spokesman explained that one Japanese column, numbering one hundred thousand was pressing westward from Chekiang, aiming at the Chinese position around Shanvjao, while the second column, estimated at fifty thousand, was driving southeastward against Yingtun. The first column has reached a point a few miles from Changjao. The second is halted near Tengpu, while the Japanese were rushing reinforcements to Kiangsi, through the Yangtse River port of Kiukiang. The spokesman asserted that the Chinese are scorching the earth everywhere. For example, they tore up the railway before the retreat, therefore the Japanese would gain no immediate advantage from the seizure. ■ LONDON, June 16.

Since the closing of the Burma Road, the Chinese have been endeavouring to get supplies along their northern life line, which is 1000 miles long, according to newspaper correspondents. Supplies are being brought along this route by 15,000 camels and 2000 rubber-tyred carts drawn by horses.