CHINESE CLAIM SUCCESSES FIVE U-BOATS IN TEN DAYS

Press, Volume LXXIX, Issue 23962, 1 June 1943, Page 5

CHINESE CLAIM SUCCESSES

FIVE U-BOATS IN TEN DAYS

Battles In Yaagtse ' Valley RECAPTURE OF YVAVANGKWAN (N.Z. Press Association—Copyright) (Rec. 7 p.m.) CHUNGKING. May 20. “The Chinese have recaptured Yuauangkwan and have killed 1000 Japanese in the operation.” says a Chungking communique. “The Chinese are closely pursuing the enemy remnants, which are retreating to the north-east towards Niekchiaho, seven miles south of the Yangtse river.” The communique adds: “Chinese operating on the Kingmen-Tangyang-Ichang sector on the north shore of the

Yangtse have gained ground. Fighting is increasing in intensity on the heights overlooking the river opposite Ichang.” The Tokyo radio claims that Japanese forces west of the Tungting lake have occupied Taiyungtang and Shimen (headquarters of the Chinese 161st Division). North of the Yangtse the Japanese claim the capture of Tangysng, a few miles east of Ichang. The recapture of • Yuauangkwan, which has been described as the gate to Chungking, eliminates the main threat against the Chinese capital. The Chinese National Military Council states that this Chinese success marks a turning point in the Yangtse valley battle. Japanese casualties have risen to 2000 and the Chinese have captured a huge quantity of booty.

RESISTANCE IN PHILIPPINES

REPORTED SURRENDER OF ALLIED OFFICERS (Rec. 7 p.m.) NEW YORK, May 30. Lieutenant-Colonel Jacosalem, commander of the Filipino and American forces on Cebu Island, and nine Allied officers have surrendered to the Japanese, according to an announcement broadcast by the Manila radio. Colonel Jacosalem has participated in guerrilla operations against the Japanese since September, 1942, maintaining contact with similar forces in other islands by radio. Japanese troops have been moppingthe Visaya district of Cebu since May' 1, the radio added. A few American-, organised Moro tribe troops are still resisting the Japanese.

SINKINGS BY COASTAL COMMAND LONDON, May 30. Details of the work of the Coastal Command against 'submarines have been released. In one period of 10 days recently, when the submarine attacks were at their height, Coastal Command machines sent five U-boats to the bottom. Two were sunk off Iceland, one in northern waters, and the others in the approaches to the Bay of Biscay. All five were on the surface when they were attacked, and in spite of heavy fire, the bombers pressed home their attacks. Great patches of oil and groups of Germans struggling in the water told their own tale.

TUNISIAN BEACHES WATCHED

WORK OF BRITISH DESTROYERS (8.0. W.) RUGBY, .May SO. Destroyers of the British Mediterranean Fleet upset any plans that the enemy might have conceived for a “Dunkirk" in Tunisia. From the monotonous duty of escorting convoys up to the North African front-line posts, these units of the “Forward Ferry," as they are commonly called, suddenly switched over to a striking force, a role which they now maintain. In the last few days of the Tunisian battle, a number of destroyers patrolled day and night close in to the beaches of Tunis and Cape Bon. Their task was full of incident. One interrupted the work of picking up Germans from rowing boats and sent a motor-boat over choppy seas to the Italian hospital ship Virgilio. The boarding party, which included a doctor, made sure that the wounded and all others'were genuine. They heard the Italian commander complain about the Idck of beauty among his 20 nurses and then returned to patrol the area to pick up 29 more Germans from their cockleshell craft. The destroyers did their share of bombarding the enemy along the beaches. Many Germans who were picked up from small craft did not know the route by which they arrived at the coast—they had not stayed long enough in each place to learn its

name. VENEREAL DISEASE

RECOMMENDATIONS IN AUSTRALIA (Special Australian Corresp., N.Z.P.A.) SYDNEY. May 31. Stricter control over the conduct of young people in public places and severe restrictions on the sale of alcohol to women were among the recommendations by the Australian National Health Council as part of the Commonwealth campaign to combat venereal disease. Other recommendations which will be submitted to a further conference of State health Ministers include the consideration by the authorities of biological instruction in secondary schools and education to secure voluntary pre-marital examinations. The Federal Minister of Health (Mr E. J. Holloway) admitted that the £25,000 voted by the Commonwealth Government to launch the campaign against venereal disease was totally inadequate for the task. The New South Wales Government has supplemented its state’s share of the Federal grant by a further allotment of £SOOO. Other matters discussed by the conference included the submission that smoking by young women was lowering the Australian national health standards and should be restricted. While no recommendation was made, the consensus was that smoking was harmful. The conference urged that special attention to better and cheaper housing must form a big part in post-war planning and it declared that domestic electrical appliances such as refrigerators and washing machines should be an integral part such housing.