BIGGER OFFENSIVE

Grey River Argus, 3 July 1944, Page 5

BIGGER OFFENSIVE

BY THE JAPANESE Aim to Hold All China Coast (Rec. 7.35) CHUNGKING, July 1. A Chinese communique states: Japanese forces have launched a long-ex-pected offensive northwards of the Canton area. The enemy is making an effort to join with other Japanese, who are driving down the CantonHankow railway. A general northward advance of the Japanese began in Kwangtung last Wednesday. Heavy fighting has occurred all along the route as-the invaders have lunged forward to join their forces at Hengyang. Chinese forces still hold HengyaThe Associated Press representative here says: Fighting evidently .is now raging within Chungking. Observers regard the new Japanese drives designed ultimately to give the enemy good defences along the mainland of Asia, with the aim of prolonging the war and possibly ot seeking a compromise peace. If the Japanese effect a junction at Hengyang it would give the enemy virtually complete control of one thousand miles of railway north anu south of the city, thus solving the problem of supplies for the Japanese forces, who have been hitherto oependent on sea lanes, river routes and overland routes, all of which were open to attack. The Chinese claim they smashed another attack from Chekiang Province, which was aimed at sup'porting the Japanese drive in Honan province, and that Chinese captured Chuhsien, twenty-five miles east oi the Kaingsi border. U.S. A. AIR RAIDS. ON HENGYANG AND IN FORMOSA (Rec. 1210) CHUNGKING, June 30 General Stilwell, in a communique stated AmericaTi Liberators on Thursday bombed docks at Takao, an important Japanese port in Sbuth-wesv-ern Forfnosa. Chinese and American Warhawks struck at enemy positions at H’engyang, smashing a railway, stajjph and starting large fires. They 'also dropped explosives on the out ; skirts of Hengyang, destroying severa. enemy gun positions.