NEW OFFENSIVE IN CHINA

Dominion, Volume 37, Issue 236, 3 July 1944, Page 5

NEW OFFENSIVE IN CHINA

Japanese Hope For Big Gain PUSH FROM CANTON (By Telegraph.—Press Assn. —Copyright.) (Received July 2, 9.15 p.m.) NEW YORK. July 1. The Japanese have launched their long-expected offensive northward of the Canton area, reports a Chinese communique. The enemy is making an effort to join his forces driving down the Canton-Hankow railway. A general northward advance began in Kwangtung Province last Wednesday, and heavy fighting occurred all along the route as the invaders lunged forward to join forces at Hengyang (south of Changsha), which is still held by the Chinese. Chungking observers regard the new Japanese drive as designed ultimately to give the enemy good defences, along the Asiatic mainland with the aim of. prolonging the war and possibly seeking a compromise peace, says the Associated Press correspondent. A Japanese junction at Hengyang- would give the enemy virtually complete control of 1000 miles of railway to the north and south, solving the problem of supplies, which hitherto have been dependent on the sea lanes and on river and overland routes which are all open to attack. The Chinese claim they have smashed another attack from Chekiang Province aimed at supporting the Honan drive. The Chinese captured Chuhsien, 25 miles east of the Kiangsi border. American Aerial Aid.

The United States Fourteenth Air Force in China in the period from July 4, 1942, to May 31, 1944, has taken the following toll of the Japanese Air Force: 1004 aircraft destroyed, 464 probably destroyed. and 282 damaged. Of enemy ships 414,939 tons has been sunk, 131,650 tons probably sunk, and 247,000 tons damaged. This does not include 42S miscellaneous boats of less than 100 ft. in length, sunk or destroyed, 58 miscellaneous boats and 12 naval vessels probably destroyed, und 775 miscellaneous boats and 12 naval craft damaged. The United States War Department, in giving these’figures, says that much of the success of the Fourteenth Air Force

has been in its increasing support to the Chinese ground forces deep in the interior of China. General Stilwell’s communique today reports that American Liberators. yesterday bombed docks at Takao, the important Japanese port in south-western Formosa. Chinese and American Warhawks struck at the enemy positions at Hengyang, smashing a railway station and starting large fires, and also dropped explosives in the outskirts of Hengyang, destroying several enemy gun positions.