DEFENCE OF KINHWA

Wairarapa Times-Age, 29 May 1942, Page 3

DEFENCE OF KINHWA

CHINESE STILL HOLDING CITV BUT NOW APPARENTLY ENCIRCLED. FIGHTING CONTINUED ON BURMA FRONTIER. LONDON, May 28. The Chinese in Kinhwa, the capital of Chekiang, are reported to be still holding out, though an earlier message stated that nothing had been heard from the garrison since yesterday. The Chinese High Command announced yesterday that renewed Japanese assaults on Kinhwa (erroneously reported yesterday to have fallen) had been thrown back. Four thousand Japanese soldiers died in a single day’s fighting for Kinhwa. The communique said that the enemy penetrated Kwangkitow, a suburb of Kinhwa, on Tuesday, but were quickly ejected after hand-to-hand fighting. A dispatch from Chungking this morning says that messages received by field telephone indicate that the Japanese troops are closing in from all directions on Kinhwa. There has been no telephonic contact since, but it is pointed out that this may not indicate the fall of the city, as the garrison will fight on even though completely encircled. The Chinese have crossed the Salween River to attack Japanese positions. The Japanese are advancing in the Shan States on the Burma-China frontier. THREAT TO BENGAL MOVEMENT OF JAPANESE SCOUTS. CALCUTTA, May 27. Japanese scouts are moving toward Chittagong in Bengal. This is revealed by General Sir Noel Beresford-Pierse, who is in command of the British troops in the Ganges delta. He said: “Small groups of Burmese with Japanese officers are thrusting across the frontier to test the Indian defences. Front-line troops are now garrisoning Chittagong.”