JAP OFFENSIVE GROWS

Grey River Argus, 13 May 1944, Page 5

JAP OFFENSIVE GROWS

ALARM IN CHINA Pekin-Hankow Railway Lost [Aust. & N.Z. Press Assn.] CHUNGKING, May 11. A Chinese communique admits the loss of the entire Pekin-Hankow railway, on which the Japanese have closed the last Chinese-held gap. (Rec. 5.5..) CHUNGKING, May 12. An atmosphere of unconcealed concern has spread in China, as reports have told of vet another Japanese thrust towards Loyang. It is admitted that the enemy has finally succeeded in gaining the control of the full length of the PekingHankow' railwax thqs linking the Japanese northern forces and thencentral forces. The Chinese have claimed to have repulsed a Japanese attempt at another crossing of the Yellow River near Manghsien, about twenty-five miles north-eastwards of Loyang It is admitted, however, that the Chinese are battling with Japanese troops which have crossed the Yellow River, near Yuangchu. It is also admitted that a thira enemy spearhead has pushed along the Lunghai railway, near Venshin, only twenty-one miles eastwards ol Loyang.

The present Japanese offensive is the largest since the enemy’s successful push to Hankow in 1929. The offensive already has carved out roughly sixty thousand square miies of territory, including much rice ana wheat-growing country. The offensive also opens up the possibility of a Japanese drive on the strategic town of Tungkwan, westwards of Loyang. CHINESE PLANES PLAY HAVOC.

(Rec. 10.5(D) CHUNGKING, May 12. A Chinese communique reports that air forces supporting Chinese ground operations destroyed over thirty vehicles in the Loyang area, blew up an artillery position at Kwantilin, bombed seven enemy launches near Tungstan on the Yellow River, ana also killed many Japanese west of Enfeng. In the course of these operations six Japanese intercepting planes were shot down. Two were probably destroyed. All the Chinese planes returned.