WAR IN CHINA

Grey River Argus, 8 July 1943, Page 6

WAR IN CHINA

LONDON, July 6. Japanese forces on the Manchurian border do not total more than one million. It is believed General Yamashita, the conqueror of Malaya, is in command of the Japanese armies. The British United Press Moscow correspondent says that the Japanese Ambassador (Mr. Sato) conferred with M. Molotov for over an hour. A Chinese communique reports: Japanese troops attacked Chinese positions in the Paotow sector or Western Suiyuan, and in Chucheng in Eastern Shangtung. Both attacks were repulsed with losses. In Southern Shangtung, several thousand Japanese attacked Chitaoho, but were repulsed with three hundred casualties. . In Eastern Kwantung, Chinese inflicted heavy losses on the enemy in the Chaoan sector, and recaptured Meitsing and Lungkow. Mr. Churchill, Sir Dudley Found, and Sir Charles Portal-sent messages to Chungking on the occasion ot the ixth anniversary, of the outbreak ot the Sino-Japanese war. Kai-shek in a message, said: “Our war resistance and the world situation this day have reached the highest peak of the uphill struggle. One step beyond will be smooth sailing for us. In the seventh year of our war, an offensive that will deal the enemy) crushing blows will be started in various world theatres. There will be an unending stream of victories. , The time limit for the utter defeat of Japan cannot exceed two years. Mr Churchill telegraphed to Chaing Kai-shek, sending greetings of the British people, and stating that neither China nor Britain was ever likely to under-estimate the colossal difficulties and immense battles which still lie before them. The road would not be without setbacks and disappointments, but the pattern of events was now becoming clear. The iniative was being wrested from the grasp of the enemy, and we could look forward with confidence and hope to the time when all over the world aggressors were driven to unconditional surrender. When this wais accomplished, Mr. Churchill acicted, he had no doubt that the AngloChinese colllaboration, tested and tempered in the fire of war, would piav its rightful part in the solution of problems of peace. Sir D. Pound sent the Royal Navys greetings to the Commander of the Chinese Naval Headquarters and the Chinese people. S’ir C. Portal telegraphed to the chief of the Chinese Aeronautical Commission, in similar terms, stating that as the 11.A.r. yvas now striking mortal blows against the Axis in Europe, so it fully mtended to play its part in bringing to an end .the tyra'ny of Japan in Asia. _ The “New York Herald-Tribune,' in a leading article, suggests that there are three significant foundations for Marshal Chiang Kai-shek’s new confidence: (1) The recent victories on the Yangtse have revealed the extent to which the Japanese are over extended and bogged down m the morass of Chinese resistance: (2) The gradual development of the threat of American air power operating from Chinese, bases; (3) The American offensive in the South-west . Pacific.