SERIOUS THREAT

Dominion, Volume 37, Issue 189, 9 May 1944, Page 5

SERIOUS THREAT

Japanese Gain In China STERN DEFENCE

(By Telegraph.— Press Assn.—Copyright.) * (Received May 8, 8.35 p.m.) NEW YORK, May 7. The China war situation is described as serious, due to the growing threat to Lo mng from which the Japanese are correspondent of the AssociatM Pm The fall of Loyang, which is aOO mile north-east of Chungking, wouid open u,p an historic invasion route to the Chinese interior. . It is believed in that Japanese may be making aiLout attempt to knock China out of the war. Japanese advances beyond Wm, would involve Chinese Go ™ent forces garrisoning the area h<WentT the Communist-controlled terntory. The .battle has already drawn to the Chinese equipment de. The Chinese and American air forces have been thrown into the ba.Ue. iSlrrf “''“‘XS Honan Province was a desp.iate eno tn strengthen their positions before the Allies~could launch a “We are doing our utmost to lt is very difficult. Hoxvevei, the Chinese Army is «811 tenacious and its morale is high, though the supplies are limited, he said.

Advance Along Railway. Chinese forces have halted the Japanese about nine miles a Chinese communique. The Japanese entered Hsiang-cheng and later movea against Yehsien. The ing their advance along th ® Han kow railway, have redunced the « a P., the line held by the Chinese to 40 miles. They have entered Yencheng in their adcommunique says that the Chinese and American^ air force strafed Japanese along the Loyang roaci, inflicting from 300 to 400 casualties and destroying tanks, armouied car: tr The’ communique reports that United States Liberators last night attacked Sa gon, starting many large Are - Uther Liberators bombed the docks and other installations at Haiphoiu, Mitchells strafed 12 large sampans off Hong Kon„, causing many casualties. Lpyang Carries On. LONDON, May 8. The Japanese are now six miles from Loyang, and enemy planes are pounamg the citv by day and night. Messages state tlmt life in the city is proceeding normally; theatres are playing to full houses, and newspapers are appearing every day.

CHINESE ADVANCE IN BURMA Stable Allied Line In South (British Official Wireless.) RUGBY,. May 7. A South-east Asia communique states that Chinese troops in north Burma have advanced to within 17 miles of Kamaitio. The advance continues unchecked, west of Mogaung, the Chinese are in contact with Japanese. In Arakan the enemy has reacted sharply to our recent successes, yur troops defeated a number of determined counter-attacks in the Mayu Range, inflicting heavy casualties. Further east, in the Kalapanzin Valley, another enemy attack also suffered severely. “Having established ourselves in certain features vital to the security or this line,” states the communique, we have carried out readjustment of our positions, including a withdrawal from Buthidaung without interference. On Friday, it continues, the Japanese made a senes of strong but unavailing attacks against the perimeter of the Kohirna defences. There has been no important development in the area ot the Imphal Plain. . . . Allied aircraft were active in support of the ground operations. Two enemy fighters were destroyed and one enemy bomber wag seen going down with f an engine on fire. , .. The enemy targets attacked from the air included stores and a bridge at bibong, which was demolished, gun positions, road transport, and other communications. One Allied aircraft is missing. . First Objectives. The Allied forces have reached .their first objectives at Kohima and the battle is proceeding satisfactorily, says Reuter s correspondent at Admiral Mountbatten s headquarters. The Japanese at Imphal are also taking a big beating and losing many men through Bombing and artillery The Japanese casualties since March 10 have been 5700, representing only the killed which have been counted. lhe Japanese bury many of their dead to prevent their casualties from being accurately assessed. i The Allies' withdrawal from Buthii daung, on the Arakan front, was not made under Japanese pressure, says a British United Press correspondent at : South-east Asia headquarters, quoting an . official statement. The control and de- . fence of the vital road through the Mayu Range is not affected, and it is doubtful whether the Japanese will occupy the , village, as it is open to both Allied and ’ Japanese shellfire. I Reuter’s correspondent says t»at Buthidaung is no longer of tactical or strategic value since we have now captured all the hills commanding the j Maungdaw-Buthidaung road. i ’ ENEMY HITS BACK , ’ LONfJOX, May 8. f The Allied communique today reports ; a Japanese offensive on sectors of the Manipur Hills front in Assam. r The Japanese are counter-attacking strongly in an effort to regain forward f positions which they lost recently, and t are suffering heavy losses. There is no general change in the neighbourhood of Kohima, where heavy fighting continues. , In the Imphal Plain area Allied patrols have advanced on the road to Kohima, and have also gained south of Imphal.