CHINA ON ATTACK

Evening Star, Issue 24285, 28 August 1942, Page 3

CHINA ON ATTACK

ASSAULTING GHUHSIEN AND LISHUI U;8. RAIDERS PLAY HAVOC AT LASHIO Eress Association—By Telegraph —Copyright ftßec. 9.55 a.m.) CHUNGKING, August 27. The Chinese army spokesman reported that fighting is under way on the outskirts of Chuhsein and Lishui. "he United Press’s correspondent says the bulk of the Japanese garrisons in both places have been withdrawn, leaving skeleton forces to meet the Chinese as-, saults. The Japanese looted and set fire to the cities before the withdrawals. American raiders at Lashio shot down two Japanese interceptors and heavily' damaged two others. This was the first American raid since August 11, when Yochow, Hunan, Nanchang, and Kiangsi were attacked. The United Press correspondent says the raid followed intelligence reports .that the Japanese wore concentrating 10,000 shock troops at Lashio for an offensive on Kulining* The Press representative accompanied the raiders, and reported; “ While the bombers attacked from high altitude, the fighters swept the troop areas with machine guns. Military buildings on the aerodrome burst into flames, while the barrack grounds were strewn with Japanese dead and wounded. All the American machines returned safely.”

The spokesman stated, that _ besides the withdrawals ■ from Chuhsien and Lishui, the Japanese forces elsewhere in Chekiang and Kiangsi were retreating northwards, relinquishing their hold on the important interproviucial railway which they once held for its entire 450 miles length. However, there was no indication that the withdrawing troops were being sent outside China. The Japanese were destroying all towns and villages in a 200-mile-wide belt, including the once populous and thriving Shangmo, Kwangfeng, and Kinngshan, which were now masses of rubble. The Central News Agency says a policy- of wilful destruction and incendiarism is being ruthlessly earned out everywhere. Likewise the Japanese are destroying all food supplies and equipment which they are unable .to carry'.

JAP. WAR PLANS

EFFECT OF CHINESE VICTORIES

CHUNGKING, August 27. The American success in the Solomons and the Chinese victories in Chekiang and Kiangsi may be expected to force Japan to revise her war plans radically,” says the Central News. Quoting official sources, the paper declares that both were capital victories. It added that since the Solomons battle was apparently following the linos anticipated by the Allies, the outcome was in very little doubt _in view of the United States victories in the Coral Sea and Midway battles. The Central News declares that the Japanese sot fire to Chungsien, indicating that collapse of the Japanese defence was imminent. It is revealed that an American air raid on Yochow on August :11 lasted for 12 hours, killed nearly 500 Japanese, and caused fires in enemy barracks. The enemy are constructing air raid shelters in many parte of Hunan,