YANGTSE WARFARE

Grey River Argus, 10 June 1943, Page 5

YANGTSE WARFARE

CHINESE COUNTEROFFENSIVE. CHUNGKING. J'une 8. A Chinese Government spokesman stated: “The victorious Chinese counter-offensive in the Upper Yangtse area has thwarted the main Japanese objectives to sever com--vnunications between the Hunan and Szechwan provinces and break the Chinese rice bowl. The Japanese admittedly plundered some granaries but the damage was small. If we succeed in recapturing Hwajung, 100 miles south-east of the major Japanese base of Ichang, our whole position will be restored to normal. China needs a bigger air force and heavy armaments, including tanks and artillery, to recapture the more important points.” Another spokesman said that the fears abroad concerning China’s economic plight were a little bit exaggerated. “but. we have great need of outside help, not only in arms, but in all kinds of supplies.”