STRATEGIC TOWN

Auckland Star, Volume LXXIII, Issue 168, 18 July 1942, Page 5

STRATEGIC TOWN

FALLS TO CHINESE

Chungking Getting Supplies From Russia United Press Association.—Copyright. Rec. 12.30 CHUNGKING, July 17. The Chinese report they are continuing their activity in Chekiang, Kiangsi, Kwangtung and Suiyuan without major changes. The Central News states that the Chinese have recaptured the strategic river town of San Kiang Kou, 31 miles southward of Nanchang. General Stilwell's communique reports that United States bombers, escorted by fighters, attacked Hankow with very satisfactory results. The Chinese High Command announces the death from wounds of Major-General Tai Lai, Divisional Commander of the Chinese Expeditionary Force in Burma, the hero of the battle of Toungoo, in which 5000 Japanese were killed. Tsingtien Reoccupied A communique says the Chinese have reoccupied Tsingtien, killing or wounding more than 500 Japanese. The remainder fled to the port of Wencliow, in Chekiang Province. The Chinese also recaptured Tuaotou, in Eastern Kiangsi. More than 2000 Japanese were killed or wounded in Central Shansi. The Chinese held their positions in spite of the destruction of their defences by the very heavy artillery tire and the arrival of Japanese reinforcements.

The Chinese attacked the Japanese barracks at Singyang. in Southern Honan, and killed or wounded numbers of the enemy.

Chungking is receiving war supplies from Russia over the 2800-mile highway constructed mostly over the last five years. Mr. Wong Wen Hao, Chinese Economics Minister, who completed an inspection of the highway, said vital materials were moving to Chungking in modern trucks and carts and on thousands of camels.. The western terminus of the highway is Tacheng, on the border of China and Russian Turkestan, where it joins the Russian highway leading to Almaata. The road partly follows the ancient trails over the mountains of Northern Szechwan and Southern Shensi.

Exhausted and near starvation, two elderly American Presbyterian missionaries, Mr. and Mrs. Hanna, and 90 British commandos have arrived in Kunming after an epic 62-day march of 430 miles through malaria and bandit-infested mountain country. The hazardous journey began at Kentung. in Burma, 12 hours before the Japanese occupation. The party travelled along an ancient salt trail and crossed 1-j separate mountain ranges. For many days they were without food. Half the party was stricken with malaria and the other half with dysentery.