HUGE JAP LOOP

Grey River Argus, 19 May 1944, Page 5

HUGE JAP LOOP

WEST OF LOYANG New Menace to Chinese LONDON, May 17. A correspondent of the British Associated Press at Chungking says: The Japanese forces are throwing n huge loop 125 miles west of the Peking-Hankow railway, and they appear to be fashioning a' -vast trap for the Chinese forces who are fighting bitterly in Loyang, which still remains in Chinese hands, in spite of ■furious Japanese infantry and artillery assaults. If the enemy’s westward thrust continues, it will threaten Tungkwan, at the elbow of the Yellow River, from which the Japanese could strike into China’s northwest. ~ A Chinese spokesman confidently declared: “The battle of Honan is not lost, in spite of .the new’ development.” Japanese have broken into Loyang City for the second time, and a battle has been going on in the streets as well as outside. Chinese have been battling to retain their hold on positions on the railway to the mountainous interior, retaking a stretch of 20 miles and a town. A hundred miles away Japanese have succeeded in regaining a foothold in the town of Honan. RIVAL REGIMES IN CHINA. (Rec. 9 0.m.) CHUNGKING. May 17. The chairman of the Administration of Communist China. Lin Tsohan, arrived in Chungking for a conference with Marshal Chiang Kai-shek. Lin Tsohan expressed guarded optimism over the prospects of a settlement of their differences. He said that the Communists are ready to co-oper-ate with Government forces. Observers hope the discussions may result in at least. >a provisional agreement between the Chinese Cefntral Government and the Commrmists, thus enabling China to throw greater strength against Japsfn.