CHINESE FIGHT GALLANTLY

Southland Times, Issue 24757, 30 May 1942, Page 5

CHINESE FIGHT GALLANTLY

JAPANESE ATTACK IN CHEKIANG

(Rec. 9.30 p.m.) CHUNGKING, May 28. The Chinese High Command announced that Kinhwafu remains in Chinese hands, although a spokesman acknowledged that the situation was perilous. The Japanese brought up 10,000 reinforcements and also achieved artillery superiority. Infantry and cavalry assaulted Kinhwafu from all sides, but all the attacks were repulsed. Both sides lost heavily. The Japanese captured Tangki after bitter fighting in which 1400 Japanese were killed. The enemy used poison gas in storming Tangki and also dropped gas bombs from planes in an attempt to cross the river 30 miles north of Kinhwafu. Gas felled about a third of the Chinese defenders. The Centred News correspondent in Chungking states that in an action designed to hamstring the Japanese, the Chinese are attacking in a triangle between Hangchow, Kashing and Wuhing, in the northernmost area of Chekiang. The Chinese have captured Wuchen, 40 miles to the north-east of Hangchow. Numerous Chinese puppet Government troops previously serving with the Japanese have gone over to the Chinese forces. BURMA ROAD The Chinese position along the Burma road has been greatly improved as American Flying Tigers have bombed Japanese bases repeatedly and met with no opposition- Chinese troops have continued to push the invaders back from the Salween river. Chungking reports say the Chinese have retaken several points east and south of Lungling, 60 miles from the Chinese border.

In Yunnan Province Japanese forces that were surrounded by the Chinese at Huitung bridge escaped, but were intercepted later. More than half of them were annihilated, and the remainder fled to the north. The New York Herald-Tribune’s Washington correspondent says that over a score of big American transport planes are now engaged in carrying war supplies to China from India, taking the place of the Burma road supply route. The planes make two round trips daily.