JAP PINCERS

Grey River Argus, 12 May 1944, Page 5

JAP PINCERS

NEARER LOYANG Chungking’s Air Raid RAILWAY .NEARLY ALL TAKEN. CHUNGKING, May 10. The Chinese High Command indicated the Chinese have almost lost a grin on the Pekin-Hankow railway. ,Tw'o strong Japanese columns striking from the south from Chumatien and from the north from S'uiping are less than 14 miles from the juncture. * The Japanese, threatening Lo■yang from the south-east, gained further ground in a fresh drive from Tengfeng, 30 miles away. The Japanese also attacked Lushan, 75 miles south-east of Loyang. i _ Appealing to the Allies for quick assistance- to alleviate the suffering of Chinese, who on July 7, will enter the eighth year of war Chang Ping Huan, Counsellor of the Executive Yuan, aeclared the Japanese had mobilised 50 to 60 thousand of their best troops in Honan, with 200 tanks hundreds of armoured cars and 1500 trucks, whereas the Chinese were fighting on foot with insufficient heavy arms. He added that the Chinese could not win .without the necessary weapons. The ■Army and people were making immense sacrifices’ and it was high time The Allies halted Chinese sufferings by increasing the supply of armaIments. China realised that the Allies’ ‘assistance was limited bv transport, so “let us open the Burma Road. Before the opening, let us have more ■transport planes with which to bring 'more supplies.” i(Rec. 11.10) CHUNGKING, May 10. The Chinese High Command states: !A Japanese force from the Shansi * Province has crossed to the south ’bank of the Yellow River, and it is [attacking heavily north-west of Loyang. This is an apparent attempt Ito close the enemy pincers on Loyang in conjunction with a column attacking from the south-west. The Chinese High Command adds (that severe fighting is progressing, i and that General Chennault’s air [force strafed Japanese strong points and columns.

' Chungking had an air raid on Wednesday night for the first time this 'year. j Representatives of the Chungking regime are conferring in Sian, in the Shensi Province, with members of tne Communist border zone government in the hope of settling differences, said the Chinese Information Minister, Liang Hanchao. He added that the i Kuomintang Central Executive Committee recently voted to settle all disputes between the two governments by political means.

General Stilwell’s communique reports that Chinese and American Warhawks on Monday strafed Yangtze shipping targets, including landing craft, and gasoline supply barges. Other Warhawks strafed a locomotive and freight cars near Bacle, IndoChina, and set fire a large supply building.