CHANGTE ENCIRCLED

New Zealand Herald, Volume 80, Issue 24759, 6 December 1943, Page 3

CHANGTE ENCIRCLED

1 "RICE BOWL" BATTLE CHINESE COUNTER-MOVE (Reed. 7.40 p.m.) CHUNGKING, Dec. 4 The Japanese had completely surrounded Changte, in the rice bowl area of China, around which there had been much fighting lately, said a Chinese military spokesman. The Chinese, however, were gradually completing a counter-cencirclemcnt that would close all the enemy escape routes. Meanwhile, fierce fighting at close quarters was continuing within the city. The spokesman predicted that "news of a decisive nature, indicating complete victory, is in our grasp." Another message says that the Chinese division holding the city is hard pressed, but American and Chinese aircraft are getting through to drop food and munitions. North and south of Changte, Chinese troops are trying to cut the lifelines of the Japanese army investing the city. The United Press points out that if Changte falls the Japanese will be in a position to drive south toward Changsha, or west toward Kweiyang or Chungking. SHIP SUNK AT HONGKONG BOMBERS DO MUCH DAMAGE (Reed. 5.35 p.m.) CHUNGKING, Dec. 4 A communique issued by LieutenantGeneral a J. W. Stilwell, Commander of the United States Forces in China, Incna and Burma, says that Mitchell bombers raided Hongkong. They sank a 4000-ton freighter and badly damaged two others, destroyed railway equipment and buildings, and started three large fires. Returning fliers said that 90 per cent of the bombs hit the target area. » Fighter-bombers also attacked targets in French Indo-China, and on the Salween front shot down one Zero. One American machine is missing from all these operations. FIGHT FOR FATHERLAND (Reed. 5.35 p.m.) LONDON, Dec. 4 The Berlin radio, giving further extracts from Goebbels' article in Das Reich, quotes him as saying: "Germans must be ready to fight for the Fatherland, and if no other chance is left they must be ready to go down with it."