JAPS IN CHINA

Wanganui Chronicle, Volume 86, Issue 203, 29 August 1942, Page 5

JAPS IN CHINA

MAJOR WITHDRAWALS ENEMY LEAVES TRAIL OF DESTRUCTION (By Telegraph—Press Association —Copyright) Chungking, Aug. 27. The Chinese army spokesman reported that fighting was under way on the outskirts of Chuhsien and Lishui. The United Press says that the bulk of the Japanese garrisons of both places have been withdrawn, leaving skeleton forces to meet the Chinese assaults. The Japanese loot’d and fired cities before making the withdrawals. Besides the withdrawal at Chuhsien and Lishui. Japanese forces elsewhere in Chekiang and Kiangsi are retreating northward and relinquishing their hold on the important interprovincial railway of which they once held the entire length of 450 miles. However, there is no indication that, the withdrawing troops are being sent outside China. The Japanese are destroying all towns and villages in a 200-mile wide belt, including the one populous and thriving Shangjao, Kwangfeng, and Kiangshan, which are now masses of rubble. The Central News says that the policy of wilful destruction and incendiarism has been ruthlessly carried out everywhere. Likewise the Japanese are destroying all food supplies and equipment which they are unable to carry. American raiders over Lashio shot down two Japanese intercepters and heavily damaged two others. (This is the first American raid since August 11, when Yochow, Hunan, Nanchang, and Kiangsi were attacked, and the only record of an attack on an objective outside China except the one on Haipong on August 9.) The raid followed intelligence reports The raid folloed intelligence reports that the Japanese were concentrating 10,000 shock troops at Lpshio for an offensive against Kumming. A United Press correspondent who accompanied the raider said: “While the bombers attacked high-altitude fighters swept the troop areas with machine-guns. “Military buildings and those on an aerodrome burst into flames, while the barrack grounds and field were strewn with Japanese dead and wounded.” All the American planes returned safely.