CHINESE DRIVE

Dominion, Volume 37, Issue 196, 17 May 1944, Page 7

CHINESE DRIVE

Effort To Link Up With Stilwell SPEEDING SUPPLY

ROUTE

(By Telegraph.—Press Assn—Copyright. (Received May 16, 8.40 p.m.) NEW YORK. May 15.

Large forces of Chinese troops, in nu effort to link up with General Stilwell’s troops in northern Burma, launched an offensive in Western Yunnan five days ago crossing the Salween River at many points over a front of 100 miles, says a Chinese High 'Command communique.

Major-General Cliennault’s “SkyDragons” have strongly supported the new drive, in winch the casualties on both sides arc heavy.

More than 20,000 Chinese troops crossed the river, and one unit has driven eight miles into the mountains west of the Salween. The Chinese are clashing with stubborn Japanese troops at a number of points, including Namien-

kuan Pass, which is nearly 11,000 ft. high, and. also Pinka, 24 miles south-east of Lungling. The Associated Press correspondent in Chungking says that the new drive is, in a sense, the first big Chinese offensive of the entire Sino-Japanese War. It has broken a long lull along China’s southwestern frontier and is obviously aimed at opening a connecting link with India via the Ledo and Burma Roads aud breaking the blockade. General Stilwell’s Chinese and American forces are driving down through northern Burma, 150 miles away. The aim is to link up the new and old roads from Burma and India and to give China the much-needed land route to this region. Taken by Surprise. The new Chinese offensive front stretches up the ,wild Salween Valley through the Chinese province of Yunnan on both sides of the Burma Road. The attack took the Japanese by surprise. The first crossings were made soon after nightfall on Wednesday last, and met with no opposition. Thick cipud hid the moon as Chinese troops were ferried across by wooden boats, rubber rafts, and rafts made from oil drums. Only one Chinese soldier was lost in the river operation. .Small-scale fighting has developed 20 or 30 miles from the two chief towns occupied by the Japanese, Lungling, on the Burma road about 120 miles northeast of Lashio, and a town to the north of the road. The progress of General Stilwell’s forces seems to be slow, but they have taken nearly half the Mogaung Valley and are ready to clean up the remainder, states an Associated Press correspondent in a dispatch from the Mogaung Valley. General Stilwell’s headquarters, in the past five weeks, have moved southward and are now within hearing of the Japanese guns. A British United Press correspondent in North Burma states that the fall of Kamaing, 20 miles from the vital railway between Mandalay and Myitkyina, is now approaching. General. Stilwell’s Chinese spearhead is now 13 miles northwest and nine miles north-east of Komaing. The general picture in the Mogaung Valley indicates that the Allies are steadily squeezing the Japanese in thp Kamaing area, with the Chindits harassing the supply lines in the Japanese rear.

JAPANESE WIPED OUT INSIDE CITY

Struggle* For Loyang LONDON, May 15. Chinese field dispatches say that the Japanese who broke into Loyang from the east, west and north-west have been annihilated. A Chinese communique announced that the Japanese have been hurled back at the gates of Loyang, and most of the enemy reaching the western and northwestern suburbs and the eastern Rate of the city have been wiped out. Heavy fighting continues in the outer defences. No changes occurred on the other Honan sectors. , . , , xi Tokio official radio claimed that the fall of Loyang was a matter’of hours. The Japanese were mopping up (be GinnesQ remnants, having broken into the city from three sides. General Stilwell s communique reports that the .American bombers supporting the Chinese defenders of Loyang bombed Japanese artillery and tanks. Chinese and American Warhawks fought seven Japanese fighters and shot down four. Other Warhawks strafed infantry concentrations, causing heavy casualties. Targets in Burma, Indo-China and South-west China were also attacked.