ENCIRCLEMENT PLAN

New Zealand Herald, Volume 81, Issue 24969, 11 August 1944, Page 5

ENCIRCLEMENT PLAN

CHINESE ATJIENGiYANG NEUTRALISING CITY'S LOSS (Reed. 10.30 p.m.) CHUNGKING, Aug. 10 The Chinese have nearly surrounded the Japanese at Hengyaug, on the Canton-Hankow railway, and are trying to complete the encirclement to prevent the enemy from continuing to the south, according to a Chinese Government spokesman. Mr P. H. Chang. He described Hengyaug as a pile of rubble, the strategic value of which had virtually disappeared. Mr Chang affirmed China's determination to frustrate the Japanese plans to conquer the whole of the Canton-Hankow railway. The Central News reports that Japanese heavy artillery bombarded Chinese positions inside Hengvang yesterday, suggesting that all resistance was not ended. The Tokyo radio admits the presence of ten Chinese divisions near H e ngyang and claims that the Japanese have inflicted heavy losses on them.

Five Chinese generals remained' with the last survivors of the heroic Hengvang garrison. The senior of them was Fang Hsien Chueh, commander of China's Tenth Army. He played an important part in the second and third battles of Changsha and the battle of Changte. Lieutenant-General Barney Giles, who has returned to the headquarters of the Fourteenth United States Air Force after the inspection of American bases it) China, discounted the effects of the fall of Hengvang. He said that even if the Japanese succeeded in taking all the Canton-Hankow railway, the Fourteenth Air Force would make it most expensive for them to operate. ASSAM MOPPING-UP HEAVY JAPANESE LOSSES (Reed. 10.30 p.m.) LONDON, Aug. 10 The Fourteenth Army's drive to expel the remaining Japanese from Manipur, Assam, is on the move again, says a special representative of the Associated Press. In two days an infantry, artillery and air assault drove the enemy rearguard from its bunkers on the Tiddim Road. The Japanese are losing heavily. "Mystery troops" operating inside Burma against the Japanese supply line along the Tiddim Road have had more successes far in the enemy's rear. Fresh evidence comes from the Kabaw Valley every day of the panic and disorder in which the Japanese fled after their defeat at Tamu. On a fivemile stretch of road 200 motor vehicles were left behind. There were also guns of all calibres and large quantities of ammunition. Many of the prisoners arriving into the cages have not eaten since the Tamu battle ended five days ago. Only one instance is recorded of a Japanese committing suicide to avoid capture. Chinese troops in the west of Yunnan Province have driven the Japanese from all but three of their positions oil Sungshan Mountain, the fall of which would clear the Burma Road to Lungling. Tho Chinese attacking Tengvueh have won positions on the ramparts of the ancient wall around the city. Other Chinese who previously breached the wall aro firmly holding their positions against fierce counter-attacks. GERMAN SAILORS MUTINY TROUBLE IN DANISH PORT (Reed. 6.30 p.m.) LONDON, ,Aug. 10 The crew of three small German naval craft lying at Sonderborg, on the Danish frontier, mutinied after receiving news of the attempt on Hitler's life, says the Stockholm correspondent of the Dailv Telegraph. Troops were sent to the narbour and quickly smothered the revolt. The ships steamed out to sea next morning and have not returned to Sonderborg. A destrover which arrived at Sonderborg late the same day acted as guardship for the port. Some of. the crew of this vessel also mutinied, but were subdued by troops. Tho German port commandant arrested the ringleaders and put them ashore. A director of/a local German bank was also arrested for complicity ill the mutinies.