AMERICAN BOMBERS

Dominion, Volume 36, Issue 217, 9 June 1943, Page 5

AMERICAN BOMBERS

Turned Tide In Battle Of Ichang

(British Official Wireless and Press Assn.) ' RUGBY, June 7.

Referring (o the heartening result of the air support now available for the first time to the Chinese, the “New York Times’’ says that the enemy is still retreating and the Japanese threat to Chungking seems to have been ended for the slimmer. The tide turned when American bombers escorted by Chinese fighters attacked the Ichang airfield. Some 75,000 Japanese troops, accustomed to fighting under an umbrella of their own planes and deprived of this protection, decided to reverse their march on Chungking. The combined Allied air strength in China is still sufficient only to hold the line and stiffen the defence But more American planes are on the way, and the battle of Ichang shows , what can happen when they get there. Strategic Chinese Gains.

The Chinese have captured strategic points round Hwajung. the main Japanese base on the northern shore of Lake Tungting. They have also advanced above and below Ichang. cleared the river bank opposite the city, and inflicted new heavy losses in mopping-up the Japanese troops. Chinese guerrillas raided Ichang, but no major assault, has yet been attempted, says a Chinese communique. Another unit driving toward a point GO miles south-east of 1-tu, captured a number of villages. The Chinese inflicted heavy losses in attacking Chaoshih, north-east of Ichang. General Stilwell’s headquarters announced that American bombers and fighters supporting the advance of the Chinese armies on the western Hupeh front carried out widespread operations yesterday, sweeping the Yangtze from Ichang to Shasi, damaging a large boat, and raking a gunboat. The Central China News agency reports that Japanese planes raided Liangshan, 110 miles north-cast of Chungking and Enshih, the provincial capital of Hupeh Province. Two planes were shot down in. each raid.