FIERCE ATTACKS

Auckland Star, Volume LXXIII, Issue 121, 25 May 1942, Page 5

FIERCE ATTACKS

AGAINST CHINESE

Japs. Throw In Big Forces Of Men And Planes

United Press Association.—Copyright. Rec. 1.30 CHUNGKING, May 24

One hundred thousand Japs, have battered from three directions at the Chinese defences on the outskirts of Kinhwa, the provisional capital of the Chekiang province, in the heaviest fighting in East Asia in five years. An army communique said Japanese bombers blasted Kinhwa ceaselessly for 24 hours. The Chinese are fighting stubbornly, but lack mechanical equipment and heavy artillery.

Eight Japanese bombers and six fighters based on Burma have raided the heart of the important Burma Road city of Paoshan, which is the next objective of the Japanese forces fighting on the Burma Road, in the Yunnan province.

The Japanese occupation of Chuanshih Island, at the mouth of the Min River, after the Chinese had once chased them back to their ships and wiped out half the landing force, obviously has increased the Japanese threat to all China's eastern seaboard, says the Associated Press correspondent at Chungking.

The Chinese High Command announced to-night that the troops had withdrawn to designated positions on Chuanshih Island after inflicting heavy casualties on the Japanese force. The Japanese smashed on to the island under cover of aircraft and intense artillery fire. The enemy landed on Wednesday and the Chinese, greatly outnumbered, fell back after fierce fighting.

a bloody struggle continues on a 45 miles front in the Chekiang province, says the Associated Press correspondent. One Japanese column is advancing from Tunglu, apparently aiming at Lanchi. North-east <JT Kinhwa, at Pukiang, Yiwu and Tungyang, a triangle of towns which form the outer defence line of Kinhwa, the Japanese were definitely slowed down, the Chinese hurling back assault after assault.

Two thousand Japanese were killed in a sanguinary encounter north of Yiwu. 32 miles north-east of Kinhwa, but the Japanese are rushing up reinforcements.