ITU OCCUPIED BY CHINESE

Press, Volume LXXIX, Issue 23970, 10 June 1943, Page 5

ITU OCCUPIED BY CHINESE

SUCCESS SOUTH OF ICHANG JAPANESE FAILURE IN MAIN OBJECTIVES (N.Z. Press Association—Copyright) (Rec. 11 p.m.) CHUNGKING, June 8. “The Chinese have completed the occupation of Itu, on the Yangtse 18 miles below Ichang,” says a Chinese communique. “The Chinese are also advancing towards Sungtse, a river port between Ichang aod Shasi. “Several hundred Japanese were annihilated during the capture of a strategic point in Hupeh Province. “The Chinese have captured six strategic points in the vicinity of Kinhwa, south-west of Hangchow, in Chekiang Province.” The remnants of the Japanese forces from Itu are reported to be retreating to the south-east.

American aircraft based in China flew over Indo-China yesterday and dropped bombs on targets in the province of Tongking. “The victorious Chinese counteroffensive on the upper Yangtse has thwarted the main Japanese objectives

—to sever communications between the Hunan and Szechwan provinces and to break the Chinese rice bowl,” said a Chinese Government spokesman in Chungking. "The Japanese, admittedly, have plundered some granaries, but the damage is small. If we succeed in recapturing Hwajung, 100 miles southeast of the major Japanese base of Ichang, our whose position will be restored to normal. “China needs a bigger air force and heavy armaments, including tanks and artillery, to recapture more important points.” Another spokesman said; “The fears abroad concerning China’s economic plight were a little bit exaggerated but we have great need of outside help, not only in arms but in all kinds of supplies.” AWARD OF Y.C. SCOTTISH OFFICER’S GALLANTRY WADI AKARIT ACTION (8.0. W.) RUGBY, June 8, The Victoria Cross has been awarded to Major (temporary LieutenantColonel) Lome Maclaine Campbell, D.5.0., for valour in the attack on the Wadi Akarit position in Tunisia on April 6. He is a nephew of ViceAdrpiral Gordon Campbell, V.C. Admiral Campbell, who won the V.C. in 1917. was in command of the famous Q ships of the last war. Lieutenant-Colonel Campbell was in command of a battalion of the Argyll and Sutherland Highlanders, to which had been allotted the task of breaking through an enemy minefield and an anti-tank ditch and forming the initial bridgehead for a brigade of the 51st Highland Division to attack. They had to form up in complete darkness and traverse the main offshoot of the Wadi Akarit at an angle to the line of- the advance. In spite of heavy machine-gun and shell fire in the early stages of the attack, Lieutenant-Colonel Campbell successfully accomplished this difficult operation, captured at least 600 prisoners, and led the battalion to its objective, having to cross an unswept portion of the enemy minefield in doing so. Later, on reaching his objective, he found that the gap blown up by the Royal Engineers in the anti-tank ditch did not correspond with the vehicle lane which had been cleared in the minefield. Realising the vital necessity of quickly establishing a gap for the passage of anti-tank guns, he took personal charge of this operation. It was now broad daylight, and under very heavy machine-gun and shell fire he succeeded in making a personal reconnaissance and conducting operations which led to the establishing of a vehicle gap. Position Held Throughout the day Colonel Campbell held his position with his battalion in the face of extremely heavy and constant, shell fire. About 4.30 p.m., determined enemy counter-attacks began to develop, accompanied by tanks. In this phase Colonel Campbell’s personality dominated the battlefield by a display of valour and utter disregard for personal safety which could not have been excelled. Realising that it was imperative for the future success of the Army plan to hold the bridgehead which his battalion had captured, he inspired his men by his presence in the forefront of the battle, cheering them on and rallying them as he moved to those points where the fighting was heaviest. When his left forward company was forced to give ground he went forward alone into a hail of fire and personally reorganised the position, remaining with the company until the attack at this pemt was held. As reinforcements arrived he was seen standing in the open directing the fight under- closerange fire by enemy infantry, and he continued to do so although painfully wounded in the neck by shell fire. It was not until the battle died down lhat he allowed his wound to be dressed and even then, although in great pain, he refused to be evacuated, remaining with the battalion and continuing to inspir.e them. Darkness fell with the Argylls still holding their positions, though many of their officers and men were casualties. There is no doubt that but for Colonel Campbell’s determination and splendid example of courage and disregard if i pain, the bridgehead would have been lost. This officer’s gallantry and magnificent leadership when his tired men were charging the enemy*, with the bayonet and fighting them at 1 hand grenade range is worthv of the: highest honour and it can seldom have j been surpassed in the-‘long history of the Highland Brigade. ‘ 1 The Deputy-Prime Minister (Mr C. I R. Attlee,, told the House of Commons ! to-day that 65 Victoria Crosses had I been awarded in this war. 28 posthu-1 mously A further award to a Scottish I officer for gallantry in Tv 'sia hj d I since been announced. i MANPOWER NEEDS OF U.S. FORCES (8.0. W.) RUGBY, June 8. Colonel Lewis Saunders, manpower expert in the United States selective service system, told the Senate Military Affairs Committee, that the United ■ States needed 12,300,000 men—l.soo,ooo i more than was at present planned—for I the armed services. He said that a I force of 10,800,000 was planned for the end of 1943, the maximum that could be supplied, equipped and transported at present.