JAPS ROUTED

Wanganui Chronicle, Volume 86, Issue 307, 30 December 1942, Page 5

JAPS ROUTED

SUCCESSFUL CHINESE OPERATIONS

FAMINE CONDITIONS IN HONAN PROVINCE (Recd. 11 p.m.) Chungking, Dec. 28. The Chinese routed a Japanese force occupying Hysihui. 80 miles east of Hankow, while successful operations against the Japanese are continuing in the Yangtze Valley, reports the United Press correspondent. The Japanese were forced out of Hysihui after occupying it for three days. The Japanese garrison at Tsefushu, 150 miles south-west of Hankow, suffered heavy casualties when the Chines o carried out a night attack. Brief Japanese sorties in Western Hupeh were repulsed and the Japanese depot at Hingcheng was destroyed. Repeated attacks by Chinese guerrillas obstructed Japanese efforts to build new roads and airfields in Hainan. Chinese guerrillas report that a large number of Chinese puppet troops have been executed in North China for "dangerous thoughts'’ or communications with bandits. The Japanese called the latest purge "purification.” Famine conditions are growing wors° in Honan Province. Families are exhanging girls for millet or wheat. Some people are eating grass, tea leaves and tree bark. HOW CH’N' vunvs PACIFIC SITUATION (Recd. 11 p.m.) Chicago, Dec. 28. The Chinese Ambassador Wei Taoming made a statement that the opening of a combined United Nations offensive in the Pacific would quickly end the war with Japan. China does not need food urgently because she has been able to master the war position sufficiently to keep food near the fighting fronts. "China is deeply grateful to the American Air Force for its accomplishments in China." ho added.