CHINA FRONT

Auckland Star, Volume LXXIII, Issue 127, 1 June 1942, Page 5

CHINA FRONT

JAPANESE SURPRISED

Unexpected Re-entry Of Chinese

Forces Into Kinhwa

Unlt«d Press Association.—CopyrJeht. Rec. noon. LONDON, May 31

A Chungking communique states that Chinese forces, carrying out a surprise attack on Thursday night, penetrated the Japanese lines and re-entered Kinhwa. There they engaged the Japanese in hand-to-hand fighting and wiped out 700, but again withdrew on Friday because the Japanese used poison gas. Gas also forced the Chinese to evacuate Lanc'nl after they had inflicted 1000 casualties on the Japanese.

Several Japanese transports were sunk in the lower Fuchu River, north of Kinhwa, while Chinese forces operating from the rear on the Chekiang front halted river traffic before Tunglu. In Anhwei Province the Chinese attacked north of the Yangtse River and occupied strategic points. They destroyed me railway to the northward and also captured an important railway station.

It was earlier reported that the Chinese have withdrawn from Kinhwa, capital of Chekiang Province, according to an official announcement from Chungking. As the Chinese withdrew outside the city they met a Japanese column, and meanwhile another Japanese column entered through the western gates.

Kinhwa has been practically reduced to ruins and the Chinese have withdrawn to outposts on the northwest.

The Japanese almost completely surrounded Kinhwa, which was ceaselessly pounded by artillery fire and aerial bombs, reports the Central News. The Japanese left a force of 40,000 for the siege of Kinhwa, while 100,000 troops by-passed it to attack Lanchi, Ta"neki and Kienten. The Japanese were twice repulsed at Lanchi, leaving several thousand dead, but the enemy captured Langyu, 25 miles west of Kinhwa. The Chinese have captured 10 points on the outskirts of Ichang. Chinese successes are reported in the Yang-tse Valley in Ichang, where strategic points on both sides of the river have been occupied. American Volunteer Group airmen again effectively bombed Loakey, in Indo-China. Seventeen Japanese R lanes raided Kweilin. capital of !wangsi Province, and set fire to the refugee district. According to a Chungking message, a Chinese communique reports that Japanese troops yesterday landed on Yuhwan Island, off the Chekiang coast, and the port of Wenchow, 'where heavy fighting is in progress.