NEW CHINESE ADVANCE

Press, Volume LXXIX, Issue 23966, 5 June 1943, Page 5

NEW CHINESE ADVANCE

yaflgtse Reached Near Ichang towns captured further south (KZ. Press Association-Copyright) 10.30 pm.) LONDON. June 4. Chinese units pursuing the enemy i- western Hupeh have reached JhP we st bank of the Yangtse, opnMlle Ichang, states a special Ehnneking communique. The Tiaanese suffered tremendous iJ«fs partly because of hunger S fatigue. More than 4000 Japanese were surrounded below Ichang and ' vere annihilated. The Chinese advancing northward in the Hupeh-Hunan border eon have reached Kungan. c h is now under attack, rvianavang, 12 miles south of Ichang, been captured by the Chinese and have occupied Chihkiang. on the vlnutse 35 miles below Ichang. Tv Chinese captured the important tm vn of Nieh-Chiaho. on the Yangtse. •the course of a successful counterVrk which is driving the enemy back jlong the river, states the Chungking * stated that Ichang now lies defenceless against air attacks as a result

rf the bombing of its aerodrome by the American and Chinese Air Forces on Monday. There was no fighter opposition then. Latest details about the struggle near Ichang show that the Japanese launched an attack with five divisions in an attempt on small Chinese river defences. The Chinese High Command jave orders to hold out at all costs, as the Russians did at Stalingrad. After five days’ fierce fighting, the Japanese were wiped out. The entire Japanese line crumbled and large supplies were left behind. Fifteen hundred Japanese were killed when American and Chinese bombers Attacked barges and launches on the river south of Ichang, Elation has replaced last week’s gloom and anxiety in Chungking about the fighting in the Hupeh Province, says the "New York Times” correspondent. He points out that although the Japanese still control the rich Tungting Lake ricebowl and may still show economic strategical profit from the operations, the Chinese counteroffensive has proved two encouraging things; first, that in spite of inferior equipment the Chinese armies have the power, will, and leadership to defend themselves in mountain fighting where the Japanese artillery is virtually impotent; and second, that the Chinese and American Air Forces are able, to fly in mixed formation and win. Rear-Admiral H. E. Yarnell, former commander-in-chief of the United States Asiatic Fleet, told the States House of Representatives’ Naval Affairs Committee that there was a grave possibility of the Chinese Government collapsing unless effective aid was forthcoming soon. He said the mainland of China was the only area from which long-range bombers could reach Japan. Russia and Japan would eventually go to war, but the Russian bases were unreliable because the Japanese would probably occupy them.

[CHINESE PILOTS PRAISED

ATTACKS IN CENTRAL PROVINCES JAPANESE FORCES DOMINATED (Rec. 11 p.m.) CHUNGKING. June 4. "Hie Chinese and American Air Forces shooting down enemy aeroplanes in the ratio of 14 to 1 dominate the central China skies,” Bays the correspondent of the Associated Press of America. “It is the most effective air support ever given to the Chinese armies. The enemy’s behaviour has convinced the Allied airmen that it is the Japanese troops’ first experience of heavy air assault.” Along the road back from ChangJang, Allied aeroplanes are reported to have killed more than 1500 of the enemy ground forces. The leader of the Combined Air Forces (Colonel John Alison), a veteran of many daring fights, highly praised the work of the Chinese pilots. He said he owed his life to the timely interception of a Chinese pilot, when his own aeroplane was badly shot up and the Zeros were crowding him. American headquarters in China we announced that the 14th United States Air Force, supporting the Chinese in the Lake Tungting area, (buck 10 comprehensive blows on May ® And 31. Liberators destroyed 20 •apanese fighters and probably another Jve during a bombardment of Ichang. Chinese fighter pilots destroyed three Japanese Zeros and probably another three. At least five machines were deatroyed on the ground, and a gunboat Was set on fire, four river boats were sunk, and four locomotives were derived, Two American aeroplanes *«e lost and several were damaged.

AMERICANS ON ATTU

- „ WASHINGTON, June 3. The Secretary of State for War (Mr !?' U Stimson) said in Washington jjw the American forces on Attu. in In u^ans . were now within strika r t nce Japanese territory. , A United States Navy communique Jim American troops on Attu on une 1 combed scattered areas and / noon had eliminated minor groups i Japanese which were encountered, tnt i ,? own Japanese dead on Attu Ml 1791, This figure does not include Ip unknown number killed by artilfosr ~ or bombs. Such casualties we either cremated or buried by the e nemv»' A f /JvV Cards.—Australian id. n i? ns who fail to produce their tolio car ds on the demand of the liahlo * r m . an P°wer authorities will be PUnvi * cr imrncc liatc detention. The Dtiim new regulation anj by the Prime Minister (Mr ii on u v ln \ is to enable the apprehends t” soldiers who are absent with(lo * ea ,ve and wearing civilian clothes, L.A 11,lls ted person in Australia is ♦vprw an identity card, while ClVl U ar i is obliged to have one. wdney, June 4.