CHINESE TRIUMPH

Dominion, Volume 37, Issue 228, 23 June 1944, Page 5

CHINESE TRIUMPH

Fortress Area Wrested From Japanese

WORLD’S HARDEST TERRAIN

(By Telegraph.—l rese Assn. —Copyright.) (Received June 22, 9.30 p.m.) CHUNGKING, June 21.

After 40 days of fighting in the world’s most difficult terrain, Ameri-can-trained Chinese troops have won complete control of the precipitous Kaolikung Mountains in western Yunnan province, says a . Chinese communique. Four thousand square miles have been wrested from the Japanese, who had spent two years converting the area into a fortress guarding Burma’s eastern border. . . , This victory was achieved in spite of most unfavourable weather conditions, and is expected to hasten the Chinese drive down the Shweli River toward General Stilwell’s forces in northern Burma. The Chinese advance was aided by the American Air Force. A South-east Asia communique states that the Chinese and Chindits are forming a tight circle round Mogaung. In the Myitkyina area General Stilwell’s forces destroyed a series of strongpoints and native troops captured a place six miles to the south. On the Kohima front we occupied Maram, 18 miles south of Kohima. The advance along the Imphal Road has con-/ tinued. 80-Mile Arc in China. The Japanese attempting to split China in half are pressing southward from Changsha along an 80-mile arc, the right extremity of which is moving through eastern Hunan province near Siangsiang, 55 miles north of Hengyang. The left extremity has engulfed the railroad town of Liling, 75 miles north-east of Hengyang. . Simultaneously the Japanese have weakened the Chinese hold on the Peiping-Han-kow railway with an additional advance, in which they captured Chengyang, thus leaving only 30 miles of the railway in Chinese hands. General Stilwell’s communique reports that the air attacks against the Japanese are continuing. Twenty supply launches were battered and large fires started at Ikiawan. American planes also bombed Lungling, which the Japanese recently recaptured.