CHINESE SUCCESS

Timaru Herald, Volume CLIII, Issue 22476, 11 January 1943, Page 4

CHINESE SUCCESS

Lihuang Reoccupied (Rec. 6.30 pm.) RUGBY, Jan. 9. Last night’s Chungking communique reports that the town of Lihuang. the temporary capital of Anhwei Province, was recaptured by the Chinese on Thursday. Lihunag was entered by the Japanese on Tuesday in the course of their northward drive through the Tapiehshan mountains. After some bitter street fighting the Chinese evacuated the town on Wednesday. The communique also says the Japanese advance to the north in this sector has now been halted. The Tokio radio says the Nanking Government has declared war on Britain and America. It is pointed out in London that this declaration does not affect the Allied military situation because Wang Ching Wei does not possess armed forces, but it is likely to affect the well-being of British and American citizens still living in Japanese occupied territories in China who hitherto have been allowed considerable freedom. It is believed that at least 8000 British and American citizens are in Shanghai, with others in Tientsin, Peking and elsewhere. The Chinese Army spokesman Lieutenant-General Osamu Tsukada. Commander of the Japanese Eleventh Army, was killed when a plane flying low was shot down by riflefire in Anhwei Province. Major-General Fujihara. a member of LieutenantGeneral Tsukada’s staff was also ■killed.