HARD STRUGGLE IN CHINA

Timaru Herald, Volume CLVI, Issue 23014, 4 October 1944, Page 7

HARD STRUGGLE IN CHINA

Heavy Losses On Both Sides

CHUNGKING, Oct. 2.

Extremely severe fighting is going on near Kweilin, reports the Associated Press. Street fighting has been intensified at Paoching, both sides suffering heavy losses. , , The Chinese counter-attacked, capturing two Japanese strongpoints. In spite of the loss of the Tanchuk air base, the 14th Air Force has attacked widespread areas in the last three days, says General J. W. Stilwell’s communique. Mitchells ana Warhawks raided Japanese _ airfields around Canton. They also raided barracks in Indo-China. knocked out bridge approaches at Mangshih, and strafed adjacent storage areas. Token Assistance Chinese officials criticise Mr Churchill’s reference in tjie House of Commons to China’s “severe military reverses in spite of lavish American help.” They complain that only taken assistance has been received, other than the splendid efforts of General C. Chennault’s air force. The tonnage flown from India exceeded expectations, but was almost wholly allocated to the American Air Force or the Chinese troops under General Stilwell. Practically nothing reached the mam Chinese Army, which is lacking in fireSower, and is forced to accept staggerig losses from well-equipped Japanese. Nevertheless, China’s determination has not weakened, and her army is still being strengthened. Lin Tso Han, chairman of the Chinese Communist. Government, announced that he is returning to Yenan, negotiations with the Chungking Government, lasting four and a half months, having failed to yield agreement on a single point. Statement Not Disputed The Washington correspondent of the “Herald-Tribune” says official quarters have not disputed the Chungking statement that China has received only token assistance from the United States. It is pointed out that China lacks even a single seaport. The statement also is interpreted as a reply to recent dispatches from the headquarters of the 14th Air Force attributing the reversals in China to the loss of airfields and to the Chinese army’s ineptitude. The official figures revealed to-day that the Chinese interior forces received 153,584,060 dollars worth of lend-lease aid to July 1, 1944, or less than one-half per cent of the total lend-lease exports. The Foreign Economic Administration declared that except for secret plans which might result from Mr Donald Nelson’s recent mission to China, only slight improvements can be foreseen in the flow of supplies by the air route which is now carrying 20,000 tons of supplies a month from India. The Ledo Road is expected to carry about 12,000 tons. Experts express the opinion that the only hope of a substantial Improvement lies in a military operation opening up the sea supply route to the East China coast.