HOLDING OUT

Timaru Herald, Volume CLVI, Issue 22935, 4 July 1944, Page 5

HOLDING OUT

Defenders Of Hengyang CHUNGKING, July 2. Japanese planes rained incendiaries on Hengyang. but the defenders are holding out, says a Chinese communique. The enemy’s land attack has diminished. Special planes are being used to evacuate American and other foreigners from Kwelin to the south-west owing to the double threat from the Japanese driving north and south along the Hankow-Canton railway. The communique states that the reinforced enemy suffered considerable casualties in numerous unsuccessful attacks in the Lungling area. Chinese troops are organising for an attack against the heavily-fortified Tengchung area.

Both American and Japanese planes attacked Hengyang yesterday, the Japanese dropping incendiaries and the Mitchells bombing runways and field installations. It was the third report of American bombing of Hengyang, possibly indicating deep Japanese penetration into the town. The Japanese drive on Kwangtung is apparently gaining momentum. It is aimed at Singuun, 40 miles north-west of Canton. One Japanese wing east of the Canton-Hankow railway is driving north in two columns against the Chinese bases of Tsungfa, 33 miles north of Canton, and Lungmoon, 70 miles north of Canton. The Chinese Command also announced that the enemy is attacking positions south-west and south-east of Tsingyun. Two Japanese landings were officially reported yesterday on the east coast of Fukien Province. They are evidently aimed at Foochow, on the south coast of Kwangtung. The Chinese claim that more than 600 enemy dead were counted in the south-west suburbs of Hengyang. Lieutenant-General J. W. Stilwell’s communique reports widespread American air activity in Honan, troop-carry-ing boats, compounds, installations and troop concentrations forming the targets.