COUNTER-OFFENSIVE

Grey River Argus, 7 June 1943, Page 5

COUNTER-OFFENSIVE

BY THE CHINESE

U.S.A. Planes Active

[Aust. & N.Z. Cable Assn.]

(Rec. 6.30) LONDON, June b. Latest reports from Chungking show that the Chinese troops in the eastward drive are sweeping along the entire upper Yangtse front. Between Ichang and Tungting Lake. They captured several towns, and on Friday, two thousand Japanese were killed and two thousand more trapped. A communique issued from General Stilwell’s Headquarters stated that on Tuesday and Wednesday, enemy, troops movement, supply lines and bases on the Canton-Hankow railway were bombed. Low-flying sweeps on a column of Jap troops on the road from Changyang to Itu were ma'de. Casualties were inflicted on two columns of Japanese troops, each a mile long, and on animal transport. Four otner columns were raked with ma-chine-gun fire and routed with heavy casualties. One Zero was shot down and another damaged. In Northeast Hunan Province, an airfield was bombed, and a fire was started. Three enemy planes were destroyed. On the Yangtse River, seventeen launches and supply craft were destroyed and others damaged. General Chennault has returned to China to resume command of the United States 14th Air Force. AIR RAIDS IN BURMA. (Rec. 6.30) LONDON, June b. A New Delhi communique states that yesterday American bombers scored hits on oil tanks at Kyaukye, north of Magwe. On Wednesday, the radio station on Diamond Island, south of Rangoon was bombed. A New Delhi message says that General Bissel, commander of the United States Forces in India in reviewing American air activity, stated that May was a record month in every phase of activity. United States Aircraft had made a 1,000 sorties over Burma, dropped a higher tonnage of bombs than in any previous month and tnat the range of operations extended to the Andaman Islands and Bangkok. Ten Jap bombers were destroyed, twelve probablv destroyed and twelve damaged for the Joss of six American planes. _____