Japs Aim At Chungking In China Drive

Northern Advocate, 27 April 1944, Page 5

Japs Aim At Chungking In China Drive

(12.45 p.m.) CHUNGKING. April 26. The latest Chinese communique docs not mention Chengchow, but the Japanese have apparently captured the rail junction and are now fighting west of the city in a drive believed to be aimed at Chungking, says the Associated Press.

Despatches from the front report that the Japanese driving southward in Central Honan have advanced beyond captured Yushin towards Kenling, approximately 45 miles southeast of Chengchow. Observers believe that the Japanese are planning to come to grips with the main Chinese army by outflanking Loyang, north-west of Tcngfent, where 10,000 enemy troops are reported to be operating. The Chungking correspondent of the “New York Times” says: “Some of the authorities view current operations gravely. Others do not. However. it would be wise to recall that some of the authorities did not take a serious view of the early stages of the Hunan campaign in November which later developed into the battle for Changteh. Nevertheless, it is obviously serious that the Japanese, although hard-pressed on the perimeter of their empire, still have sufficient manpower and supplies to undertake an aggressive campaign in China. ’ Straff Japanese Camp

Kittvhawks strafed a Japanese camp at. Tetigfintng. Western Yunnan, last .Sunday, Inflict ing heavy casualties nil 400 parading troops, states General Si dwells communique. A Mitchell on Monday sank a sma.t steamer and damaged another snnth-ewl of Hainan Island. Kittvhawks set lire to an aerodrome barracks at Kentunii. t.astern Burma _ Fighter-bombers smashed an anillcrs post at Skinning, south of llar.knw.