NIPPON FORCES RETREATING NORTH

Auckland Star, Volume LXXIII, Issue 203, 28 August 1942, Page 3

NIPPON FORCES RETREATING NORTH

CHINESE GAINS

Aerodrome For Bombing Japan Is Objective

United Press Association—Copvrielit Rec. 12.30 p.m. LONDON, Aug. 27.

The Chinese Army spokesman at Chungking reported that fighting is under way on the outskirts of Chuhsien and Lishui, in Fukien Province. The correspondent of the United Press says that the bulk of the Japanese garrisons in both places have been withdrawn, leaving skeleton forces to meet the Chinese assaults. Japanese looted and set fire to the cities before their withdrawals.

Besides the withdrawals at Chuhsien and Lishui, Japanese forces elsewhere in Chekiang and Kiangsi are retreating northward, relinquishing their hold on the important interprovincial railway which they once held along the entire 450 miles of its length. There is no indication that the withdrawing troops are being sent outside China.

The Japanese are destroving all towns and villages on a 200-mile wide belt, including the once populous and thriving Shangjao, Kwangfeng and Kiangshan, which are now masses of rubble.

The Central News says the policy of wilful destruction and incendiarism is being ruthlessly carried out everywhere. Likewise the Japanese are destroying all food supplies and equipment which they are unable to carry. Chinese troops, says a message from Allahabad, are now closing on Chuhsien, another vital base in Eastern China, from which Tokyo may be bombed. American Planes Hammer Lashio American raiders at Lashio, on ihe Burma Road, shot down two Japanese interceptors and heavily damaged two others. This is the first American raid since August 11, when Yochow, in Hunan, and Nanchang in Kiangsi, were attacked, and the only record of an attack outside China except tlie one on Hiaphong Indo-China, on August 9. The United Press says the raid followed intelligence reports that the Japanese were concentrating 10.000 shock troops at Lashio for an offensive in Kunming. A correspondent who accompanied the raiders said: "While the bombers attacked from a high altitude, fighters swept the troop areas with machine-guns. Military buildings on the aerodrome burst into flames, while the barrack grounds and a field were strewn with Japanese dead and wounded. All the American planes returned safely." LIFE IN SHANGHAI CANADIAN GIRLS' COMPLAINT Rec. 2 p.m. OTTAWA, Aug. 27. Not being allowed to sing God Save the King is one of the things which most annoyed Jean Duclos, aged 15, and her sister Susan, aged 12, who were among a party of repatriated Canadians just returned from the Orient. They are the daughters of Mr. V. *E. Duclos. Canadian Trade Commissioner at Shanghai. "They would give us heck if they caught us singing God Save the King," Susan complained, and said, "Nobody bothered us in Shanghai. We went to school with 150 other kids, but. we heard of other people, outside the Settlement, being treated badly."