Chinese Lose Ground

Northern Advocate, 18 May 1943, Page 3

Chinese Lose Ground

CHUNGKING, May 17. A Chinese communique admits the loss of Chiangkou and Kungang north-west of Lake Tungting and adds that more than 1000 Japanese were killed in fierce fighting on the outskirts of Tsingshih, an important highway centre north-west of Lake Tungting, but the enemy was reinforced and continued to attack. Several hundred Japanese were killed in the Kingmen sector, north of Yangtze, where the Chinese are making diversionary attacks in an effort to relieve the pressure against their Lake Tungting forces. The United Press Chungking correspondent says recent advances have given the Japanese control of most of the triangular area between Lake Tungting and the Yangtze. The Japanese are now trying to clear the entire west shore of Lake Tungting. Bitter, Confused Fighting

A Chungking communique says bitter, confused fighting continues south of the Yangtse, where Japanese are attempting to over-run Chinese strongholds along the west shore of Tungting Lake. One Japanese column, 4000 strong, is advancing westward from the north shore towards Tsingshih and Lihsien. Another column is driving towards Kungan. The Japanese yesterday raided Tsingshih, Lihsien and other towns. North the Yangtse the Chinese successfully attacked enemy positions at Ichang, Kingmen, Tangyang and Yuanan, and also are still resisting the enemy in Taihang Mountains, north of the Yellow River.