CHINESE THRUST

Auckland Star, Volume LXXIII, Issue 165, 15 July 1942, Page 5

CHINESE THRUST

JAPS. PUSHED BACK Success In Fighting In Kiangsi Province United Press Association.—Copyright. Rec. 12.30 CHUNGKING, July 14. The Chinese counter-offensive In Kiangsi Province has pushed the Japanese back to Llnchwan. The Japanese garrison there Is encircled. At least 700 Japanese casualties were suffered in the battle at the city's approaches. The fight for Linchwan is an extension of the battle in which the Chinese entrapped 30,000 Japanese troops around Changshu, 30 miles to the west of Linchwan. The success of the Chinese counter-offensive has temporarily thwarted the Japanese plan to push west of Nanchang along the Nanchang-Changsha railroad. The Central News reported that Chinese guerillas, who have been active throughout the summer on Hainan Island are operating from the mountains against shore-based Japanese. Aerial bombardment failed to drive out the guerillas. The correspondent of the Associated Press says that Japanese columns plunging south through the heart of Chekiang have reached Wenchow. Elsewhere the Chinese have the enemy on the run, particularly in Kiangsi, where the Japanese have been hurled back to the outskirts of Linchwan, pursued by three Chinese columns. On the Shansi-Honan front the Chinese killed 800 Japanese when they surrounded Lingchwan. The remainder of the enemy garrison is in flight toward Tsingtao.