Jap. In Reverse After Yunnan Drive

Northern Advocate, 17 December 1942, Page 5

Jap. In Reverse After Yunnan Drive

(Rec. 1 p.m.) LONDON, Dec. 16. A Chungking communique states that the Japanese have begun to attack from Shasi, driving southward in three columns. Heavy fighting is in progress. A second Japanese attempt to land troops on Luichow Peninsula was beaten off. A warship launched 12 fully-loaded invasion barges and attempted to cover the landing with guns. Stout Chinese resistance repelled the invaders. According to a communique issued from Chungking on Tuesday, Chinese troops are pursuing the retreating Japanese north of Tengyeh in Western Yunna*.. The London Office of the Chinese Ministry for Information infers from the latest official Chinese reports that the first wave, at least, of the long anticipated Japanese attack into Western Yunnan has been defeated. The Japanese are evidently making a fighting withdrawal to the base from which the attack was launched on December G and are reported to be offering stubborn resistance to Chinese counter-attacks in tne area south of Paichiaho. It appears that the primary objective of the Japanese offensive was to turn Chinese positions along the Salween R ; ver by striking north from Burma at Tengyeh and then east across the river, but at no stage dees the attack seem to have much progress in face of the strong resistance it encountered. For their first attack, the Japanese used some 5000 or 6000 of the 30.000 or more troops they have gathered m he Yunnan-Burma border area and i is not yet clear whether' they will use their available reinforcements to stem or prevent Chinese counter-attacks or will strike in another direction.