THE YANGTSE FRONT

Otago Daily Times, Issue 25279, 16 July 1943, Page 3

THE YANGTSE FRONT

CHINESE AIR ACTIVITY

(Rec. 7 p.m.) CHUNGKING, July 14. Lieutenant-general J. Stilwell’s communique states that the United States Air Force in China in the past seven days have bombed and strafed Japanese positions from the Yangtse front to Indo-Chino. Fifteen river craft at Canton were destroyed or damaged, including a motor vessel of about 8000 tons. Five raids were made on Haiphong, Hongai, and the Campha port area. Extensive damage was caused, hits being scored on a cement plant supplying 80 per cent, of the requirements of the Japanese military installations to the south of- Formosa. All the American planes returned. A supplement to General Stilwell’s communique states: Shipping was attacked in Haiphong Harbour, where an oil tanker was sunk and a minelayer and a freighter were damaged. There were near-misses on other large vessels. Two Japanese ships at Dalong Bay received a direct hit, and a seaplane on the water was destroyed. Many warehouses, a powerhouse, and railway yards at Hongai were directly hit. and incendiaries caused large fires, Tire Chinese communique states that Japanese forces striking from the Kun-lung-Yunnan-Burma border are retreating to their base, and the Chinese have restored their original position. Another enemy thrust against Lungling was turned back.