WITHOUT DEFENCE

Wairarapa Times-Age, 5 June 1943, Page 3

WITHOUT DEFENCE

AGAINST AIR ATTACK » BIG JAPANESE BASE. ON YANGTSE. AS RESULT OF BOMBING OF AERODROME. (By Telegraph—Press Association —Copyright) LONDON, June 3. It is stated that Ichang, the big Japanese base in central China, now lies defenceless against air attack as a result of the bombing of its aerodrome by the American and Chinese air forces on Monday, when there was no fighter opposition. The latest details about the recent struggle in the vicinity of Ichang show that the Japanese had launched an attack with five divisions against small Chinese river defences. The Chinese High Command gave orders to hold out at all costs as the Russians did at Stalingrad, and after five days of fierce fighting the Japanese were wiped out. The entire Japanese line crumbled, and large supplies were left behind. The Chungking radio today said that the Chinese also captured the important town of Nieh-Chiaho, on the Yangtze, in the course of a successful count-er-attack which drove the enemy back along the river.

TAKEN BY CHINESE

YANGTSE PORT & MANY OTHER TOWNS.

HAVOC WROUGHT ALSO BY AMERICAN PLANES.

(By Telegraph—Press Association—Copyright) (Received This Day, 12.25 p.m.) CHUNGKING, June 4. After a 30-mile advance in three days, the Chinese smashed into the Yangtse port of Itu, 23 miles south of Ichang, and engaged the Japanese garrison in fierce street fighting, says an Associated Press correspondent. Two thousand Japanese were annihilated in the Itu area. Chinese planes bombed the retreating forces and smashed concentrations of junks and other craft waiting to transport troops across the river. The Chinese have also penetrated the outer defences of Kungan, a South Hupeh town, in which the Japanese had established a base for a westward drive. The Chinese captured Hanhsien, north of Lake Tungting and also retook ten towns in the Hupeh-Honan border region. General Stilwell’s headquarters announced that United States fighters and bombers inflicted heavy casualties on the retreating Japanese in the Upper Yangtse area on Tuesday and Wednesday, sinking many river boats, disrupting rail traffic and supply centres, destroying four Japanese planes and damaging two.

Mrs Marguerite Avis Ward, Hyde, 25 ; both legs fractured. Robert Ward, baby," slight injuries.

James Mcßride, Lauder, abrasions and shock.

Mrs Margaret Hansen, Cromwell, 67, fractured ribs.

A. R. Wright, Musselburgh, 38, bruised hip and abrasions. Miss E. Knight, Abbotsford, injuries and abrasions.

C. R. Crutchley, Kyebrun, injuries to back and face.

Mrs Mavis Sawers, Alexandra, 39, fractured left leg and severe shock. Andrew Sarginson, Gimmerburn, 53, crushed upper ribs and shock. John Wright, Ranfurly, compound fractures of leg and arm and internal injuries.

Ray Tyrrell, Makarora, 14, abrasions.

Pearl Jenkins, Kahuika, 15, abrasions.

Harold Strode, Kyeburn, 46, fractured leg. Albert Kane, Becks, leg injury. John E. Kearney, Ranfurly, abrasions.

Mrs Kearney, Ranfurly, abrasions. Mrs R. J. Little, Moutere, injuries to back.

Lorna Hore, Naseby, 18, fractured jaw.

John Stuart, Naseby, 60, bruises. James Lynch, Ranfurly, injuries to back and chest. Joseph Geoffrey, Wedderburn, leg injuries.

Murray Rawcliffe, Jokonga, 11, injuries to chest.

Ross Helm, Gimmerburn, fractured leg. Frank Pringle, Ranfurly, injuries to shoulder.

Grant McMillan, Naseby, fingers crushed.

E. D. Lambie, Mayfield, scalp wound

S. E. Little, Southland, fractured arm. David Connor, Kyeburn, fractured arm and leg. C. A. Woods, Hornby, injuries to spine.

J. E. O’Connell, Hyde, fractured jaw and ankle, injuries to hip and ribs. _ , Mrs R. J. Hanrahan, Ranfurly, bruises. R. J. Little, Moutere, fractured leg. Valerie Smolensk'!, Hyde, bruises. Mrs R. Maskell, Dunedin, fractured leg. Mrs John Frater, Alexandra, fracturleg. J. Corcoran, engine driver, severe scalds, injury to arm. S. G. Hollow, fireman, severe scalds.

PUBLIC INQUIRY

TO BE HELD AS SOON AS POSSIBLE .SYMPATHY OF MINISTERS. (By Telegraph—Press Association.) WELLINGTON, This Day. The Government’s deep sympathy with the relatives of those who lost their lives in the Otago railway disaster and with the injured was expressed last night by the Prime Minister, Mr Fraser. Few details of the occurrence had been received by him.

A request that a message of deepest sympathy from the department and himself be conveyed through the Press to the relatives of the killed and also to the injured was made by the Minister of Railways. Mr Semple, immediately he received news of the accident.

“The accident will be the subject of a public inquiry as provided for in the Government Railways Act,’ Mr Semple said, “The personnel of the Inquiry I Board will be announced as early as practicable.”