JAPANESE DRIVES

Wairarapa Times-Age, 23 November 1943, Page 3

JAPANESE DRIVES

IN CENTRAL CHINA THREAT TO IMPORTANT BASE. SOME CHINESE SUCCESSES. (By Telegraph—Press Association—Copyright) NEW YORK, November 21. Japanese troops with strong bomber support are closing in from three sides on Changteh, in' Hunan Province, the main Chinese position in central China, reports the Chungking correspondent of the United Press of America. Changteh could be a jumping-off place for an attack on Changsha, capital of Hunan, 110 miles to the south-east. The Chinese smashed a Japanese drive near Shimen, about 80 miles south of Ichang, the Yangtse port in Hupeh Province, and are now mopping up. The Chinese are also reported to have scored successes at Ichang, Kingmen, and Tangyang. GOOD WORK , DONE BY ALLIED AIRMEN IN CHINA. AGAINST JAPANESE SHIPS & PLANES. (By Telegraph—Press Association—Copyright) (Received This Day, 10.35 a.m.) CHUNGKING. November 22. American airmen sank 14,200 tons of Japanese shipping last week, probably destroyed ten Zeros and damaged four others. Chinese airmen, supporting ground troops, attacked an enemy column in the Li River area, sank 20 Japanese ships, and set fire to 50 others. Chinese troops counter-attacked in Chihli, killing 2.000 Japanese in close quarter fighting, but failed to capture the city. Japanese troops, after occupying Hsinan, Hokow and Linli are attempting to storm Hanshow, near Changteh, which is believed to be the major objective of the .present offensive. General Stilwell’s communique states: “Mitchell bombers, in a series of sweeps on the south-east coast, shot down a transport plane, sank a gunboat and freighter and damaged five other freighters. They also set on fire wharves and warehouses at Swanton and Japanese installations at Tzeli.”