WAR IN CHINA

Grey River Argus, 15 December 1943, Page 3

WAR IN CHINA

JAPANESE LOSSES, CHUNGKING, Dec. 13. A Chinese communique stated: Chinese forces recaptured Niupitan, east of Changteh, and have retaken ten villages north-west of Changteh, encircling two thousand Japanese, whereof five hundred were killed. The Associated Press reports that' the Japanese have been driven out of Panlungkiao, twenty miles northwest of Changteh. Chinese forces after capturing several villages in fierce hand-to-hand engagements are reported to be attacking outer defences of the Japanese base of Inchang on the Yangtze. The Tokio radio announced that American (Liberators and Mitchells bombed Hankow area last night. General Stilwell in a communique says: Mitchells dropped twelve tons of bombs on Japanese installations at Ansiang and Ihishow in the Tungting Lake sector, starting many fires. American fighters intercepted the Japanese formation of fighters and dive-bombers. Eight Zeros and' two dive-bombers were shot down. There were no American losses. China-based Liberators bombed the Hanoi railway yards and adjacent warehouses. Fighter-bomb-ers supporting Chinese troops attacked four villages on the Salween front. , , , The United Press correspondent at 'General Stilwell’s headquarters says: After a year of fighting in Burma and Assam, the American fighter group equipped with P4o’s and Warhawks reinforced General Chennault’s air force. The squadrons recently. escorted bombers to Haipong and Hanoi and machine-gunned Jap- ] anese Indo-China and Southern ' China. : - RUGBY, Dec. 13. I Chinese planes bombed targets 'north of Hunan, starting many big ] fires, states a Chungking, message. I They also bombed retreating Japl anese troops north-west or Chang- ] teh. No. Chinese planes were lost. ' Liberators escorted by fighters, raided Hanoi on December 12 states a communique from General Stilwell’s Headquarters.. Ten tons of bombs were dropped on railroad yards and warehouses and hits and explosions were observed. lhere was no enemy interception. On the Salween front four villages were bombed. The Japanese raided one of our forward bases, three Japanese planes being shot down and three fighters and one bomber dam- ! aged. We lost one aircraft. Ihree Japanese planes were shot down and three others badly damaged when Japanese raided another forward base.

JAPANESE SUCCESS.

CHUNGKING. Dec. 13., A communique states: Japanese forces have captured Shinmen. an important town forty miles north-west of Changteh. The Associated Press states: Reinforced Japanese are fiercely count-er-attacking near Ansiang, forty-live miles north-east of Changteh General Stilwell reports: “The Japanese bombed a forward 'American air base, but caused only minor damage. Three bombers were shot down and possibly two others. One American aeroplane was lost. Japanese Prisoners ADMIT GAS EQUIPMENT (Rec. 8.10) CHUNGKING, Dec. 13. Ten Japanese prisoners were questioned by Chinese Intelligence officers, in the presence of Allied officers and Allied press corre dents. The prisoners said that Japanese units in Central China were equipped with deadly blister and suffocating gas shells, but they a--denied that fhey had ever witnessed the use of these gases, except Sergeant Mitsui Katsuo. , He said that the Japanese frequently used to cantiire stubbornly-defended Chinese positions, or to escape from encirclement. Sergeant Katsuo revealed that each platoon of his Twentyninth Division carried four red-coi-oured cylinders of tear gas and four blue cylinders of sneeze gas. He .had also seen green cylinders containing 'suffocating g.as .nd taiq some Japi anese units were equipped With I blister gas shells. Sergeant Katsuo said th.atlcompany commanders have authority |to order the use of poison gases. k