DEFEATS IN CHINA

Timaru Herald, Volume CLVI, Issue 23013, 3 October 1944, Page 5

DEFEATS IN CHINA

Atmosphere Of Gloom CHUNGKING, September 29. Recent Chinese defeats and the possibility that the Americans may lose additional bases in China have produced an atmosphere of gloom in Chungking unmatched since the dark days when China was fighting alone, states the Associated Press. The Chinese and Americans feel that recent reverses have already prolonged the war several months, in addition, the prestige of the Chinese Central Government has been harmed, which is important in respect to relations between the Chinese and the other Allies, and because the reverses mean that the Central Government has lost a certain amount of face in its dealings With the Communists in the north. Moreover, the loss of some of China’s best divisions and the loss of air bases has greatly weakened the possibility of co-operation in any joint effort with the American forces in the Pacific in the event of any attempt to seize an important Chinese coast port. Recuperation from the Japanese blows will require months, even if the Japanese are content merely to seize Kweilin and Liulchow. The Japanese have reached 30 miles north-east of Kweilin, and advanced American ah- bases at Tankchuk and

Pingnan, 130 miles south of Kweilin, says the Chinese High Command. The correspondent of the British United Press says that another Japanese column flanking Kweilin on the east has pushed further south to Linghukwan, closing to less than 100 miles the gap separating it from enemy units in South-eastern Kwangsi, and increasing the danger of China being split north and south. Airbase Evacuated Brigadier-General C. Chennault, announced that the Americans had evacuated Tanchuk airbase after destroying the installations. The Chinese High Command stated that street fighting was unabated at Poaching, and the position on the Hunan-Kwangsi railway front was unchanged. The Japanese were reported to be 30 miles east and northeast of Kweilin. General J. W. Stilwell’s communique reports that American bombers last week sank 28.800 tons of Japanese ocean-going vessels and 57 other vessels of less than 100 feet were also sunk. The 14th Air Force heavily attacked Japanese columns in the LunglinKweilin area and rear supply lines to Hengyang and Tungting Lake. Thirteen Japanese planes were destroyed, seven probably destroyed and 19 damaged of a force encountered in North Hunan over Sinsiang. No American planes were lost. Japanese troops have reached within 10 air miles of Kweilin, says the United Press. Kweilin also is imperilled bv a flanking thrust moving through Humning and Lunghukwan. also by a pincers movement from the Sinning direction. The 16th Air Force reports that Liberators attacked Tienho aerodrome in Canton. The Tokio radio claims that the loss of bases in East China has seriously crippled the American Air Force, resulting in a noticeable decrease in the number and effectiveness of attacks in the last week.