BATTLE ROUND LOYANG

Dominion, Volume 37, Issue 194, 15 May 1944, Page 5

BATTLE ROUND LOYANG

Vital Railway Cut GRAVE THREAT TO CITY (By Telegraph.—Press Assn.—Copyright.) (Received May 14, 7.30 p.m.) . CHUNGKING, May 13. The threat to Loyang has increased, and an army spokesman today described the situation of the city as grave. The Japanese, thrusting from the north, have cut the Lunghai railway, which is the main communication line of the Chinese troops defending the city. The only remaining communications ol these troops lie through the mountains, and are little more than tracks. Using 600 tanks and armoured cars, the Japanese are converging on Loyang from four directions after cutting the Lunghai railway west of the city at three points, reports the United Press correspondent. A spokesman said that 100,000 enemy troops are attempting to destroy all the Chinese forces in western Honan province to isecure their hold on the Peking-Hankow railway. One Japanese column has reached a point four miles south of Loyang, and another has driven westward along the Lunghai railway to within 19 miles of the city. Other units are striking from the Tengfeng area, 35 miles to the southwest.

Meanwhile a furious battle is raging for the road junction at Sunghein, 43 miles south-west of Loyang. The spokes man ascribed the swift Japanese advances to the armoured forces, which caught the Chinese by surprise, since they had not been used in that area for a long* time. He added that the Allied air forces have destroyed at least 30 tanks and 190 trucks in the past week. The Chinese after a five-hour attack, recently recaptured Chinshan Island, east of Fukien, an important Japanese supply base several years ago. One hundred Japanese soldiers were killed and large quantities of supplies captured. A Chinese communique states that the Chinese Air Force extensively has attacked objectives on the Honan front with brilliant results, causing more than 500 casualties, and destroying 29 Japanese tanks and numerous other vehicles.