CHINESE AIRFIELD BATTLE

Dominion, Volume 35, Issue 263, 5 August 1942, Page 5

CHINESE AIRFIELD BATTLE

Planes’ Heavy Attack

CHUNGKING, August 3.

Recent attacks by Japanese planes on a United States aerodrome at Heng-' yang, indicate that the. enemy has assembled a special force of improved fighter planes and highly-trained pilots for the express purpose of wiping out this American outpost, says a statement issued from General Stilwell’s headquarters. A total of 119 Japanese planes participated in a 36-hour attack on the airfield, which began on Thursday. Seventeen Japanese planes were shot down and probably four others. The Associated Press reports that another big air battle over Hengyang between United States planes arid the new Japanese fighters was fought today. Though details are at present unavailable the outcome is reported to have been favourable to the Americans. United States bombers escorted by fighters dropped three tons and a half of bombs on the Japanese headquarters at Linchwan. Hits were scored on barracks and docks, and fires were started. Chekiang Ebb and Flow. The Chinese High Command states that the Chinese in east Chekiang have again recaptured Tslngtien—which has changed hands four times —and. the Japanese are retreating to Lishui. West of Wenchow the Chinese have recaptured several strategic points, and fighting is raging in the outskirts of Wenchow. The Chinese admit that Japanese columns are closing in upon Sungyang, 25 miles west of Lishui. The Associated Press correspondent says that United States air headquarters denied that American planes attacked Hong Kong, as was reported in the newspaper “Takung Pao.”. The report is believed to be a garbled version of an American raid on the Yangtze River port of Kuikiang on July 20.