FURTHER GAINS

Wairarapa Times-Age, 8 June 1943, Page 3

FURTHER GAINS

MADE BY CHINESE FORCES IN YANGTSE VALLEY AMERICAN AIRCRAFT ACTIVE. • ATTACKS ON ENEMY SHIPS. LONDON, June 7. A Chungking message slates that Chinese . forces have driven I lie Japanese out of several more strategic. , points south of the Yangtse River. Mopping-up operations arc still going on in and around Hu. American aircraft shot up a gunboat and damaged another enemy ship on the Yangtse.

HEARTENING RESULT OF AMERICAN AIR SUPPORT IN CH.INA. THREAT TO CHUNGKING REPELLED. (British Official Wireless.) (Received This Day. 10.42 a.m.) RUGBY, June 7. Referring to the heartening result of the air support now available for the first time to the Chinese, the “New York Times - ’ says the enemy is still retreating and the Japanese threat to Chungking seems to have ended for the summer. The tide turned when American bombers, escorted by Chinese fighters, attacked the Ichang airfield. " Some 75.000 Japanese troops, accustomed to fighting under an umbrella of their own planes, and deprived of this protection, decided to reverse their march on Chungking. The combined Allied air strength in China is still sufficient, only to hold the line and stiffen the defence, but more American planes are on their way and the battle of Ichang shows what can happen when they get there.