LOYANG BATTLE

Grey River Argus, 18 May 1944, Page 5

LOYANG BATTLE

Stout Chinese Defence ENEMY ELSEWHERE CHECKED. (Rec. 6.30) CHUNGKING, May 16. A Chinese communique states: Chinese forces destroyed over 20 enemy tanks during several days’ fighting in the outer defences of Loyang. Chinese forces since May 12 fiercely engaged enemy forces who were supported by over two hundred tanks on a line extending from south-west of Sinan to the north-east of lyang. Chinese forces intercepted and checked another Japanese column advancing from Ichwan to a point south of lyang and also intercepted Japanese forces west of\ Mienchih. Chinese forces recaptured Chumatian. LONDON, May 17.

A communique from General Stilwell states American bombers attacked Japanese artillery posts, bombarding Loyang from the south. Concentrations of tanks, armoured cars, infantry and cavalry were also bombed. American fighters shot down four Japanese planes and damaged one. In a sweep over the Yangtse, four supply ships were destroyed. AMERICAN AIR ACTIVITY. (Rec. 12.40.) LONDON, May 17. _ A Chungking report states: American fighter-bombers steadily hammered Japanese Burma Road positions, hitting concentrations at Pingka, Mamien Pass, Mengta and Tatangtzu. < Mitchells attacked at Kenghluang, a bridge southward of Lampang m Thailand, and also destroyed buildings and set fire to a suply depot at Wanpahsa on the Burma-Thailand border. Fighter-bombers patrolling the Yangtze River strafed eighty boxes and cars and destroyed a locomotive. They destroyed four small vessels, and damaged another at Lin’ siang, and damaged many other river craft. Mitchells encountered twentytwo Japanese fighters and several bombers at Yochow. They shot down two and probaply destroyed six; also damaging seven. All the Amer-can • ’planes returned