The Waterbury Democrat. [volume] (Waterbury, Conn.) 1917-1946, 1942-07-07

erS. The American people have
watched with deep sympathy and
admiration the heroic fortitude and
tenacity with which for five lone
and bitter years the Chinese people
have fought on against heavy odds
"On the occasion of this anniver-
sary ! desire to convey to you and
through you to the Chinese people
an expression of the wholehearted
good wishes of the American people
who, as comrades-in-arms with the
Chinese people. are now facing COM
mon aggressors and share common
peril We realize that the way before
US is beset with formidable difficult
ties. We shall not falter.
China Is Determined
"China's determination to con-
tinue resolutely and valiantly as a
leader in the fight for freedom con-
stitutes an inspiring part of the
unshakeable unity of purpose Of the
United Nations. The consciousness
of those nations of the business Of
their cause, their resolve to make
all necessary sacrifices, and their
firm purpose to carry home to the
enemy the war which he has ra-
paciously inflicted upon humanity
makes certain final victory"
Maj Gen. Chuh Shih-Ming, mill
tary attache of the Chinese en-
bassy here, said that Japan is the
weakest enemy Of the allies and
should be knocked out of the war
this year to permit concentration
of United Nations forces against
Germany.
He expressed confidence the So
Wet Union could hold out through
the summer, but when asked wheth-
er China could continue resistance
that long he replied: II only hope
to God we can"
General Chu estimated that Japan
has 100000 soldiers for service in
China. He said China has 10000
men under arms, including those in
training. He also gave the following
statistics: japanese casualties, g.
090,814 of which 1,257,665 were
killed or permanently disabled; IT.
498 taken prisoners by the Chinese;
6,547 tanks and vehicles, 1901 guns,
80, lit rifles and 6,332,000 rounds of
small arms ammunition captured by
the Chinese; 993 Japanese planes
shot down Or destroyed by the
Chinese.
Chungking, July 7 = U.P0 =
Japan has suffered more than $780,
900 casualties and lost 1854 planes
in IA major battles and 10,375 guer-
rilla skirmishes in the war against
the Chinese, the Chinese national
military council announced today as
Sino-Japanese hostilities entered the
sixth year.
In a special fifth anniversary war
communique, the council said the
Japanese casualties included 1,000,-
900 troops killed and 100000
wounded. In addition, 29,924 pris-
oners were captured and 7,469,913
pieces of war booty seized.
The report said 100000 Japanese
troops and about 1000 Japanese
planes now were immobilized in
China proper.
The booty included 1881 artillery
pieces, 8,576 machine guns, 2,420
rifles and 8,841 tanks, lorries and
automobiles.
A military spokesman said the
figure for japanese casualties was
conservative" and that it included
only troops of japanese nationality
"The japanese troops presently
immobilized in China proper in
clude 80 infantry divisions and one
casual army group, or roughly over
100000 men," he said. This figure
does not include those enemy forces
now in Manchuria."
Japan reached her greatest mill
tary strength in China in 1910 when
she employed 81 divisions or more
than 100000 men against General
issimo Chang Kai-Shek'S forces, the
spokesman said.
The report covered the five years
of war beginning with the skirmish
for control of the Marco Polo bridge
over the Yingting river near Peiping
in 1887. This incident marked the
beginning of fight that has spread
out over the richest and most popu-
lous regions of China, driving an
estimated 100000 Chinese from
their homes along the coasts tc
bleak interior regions.
Chungking, capital of Generals
simo Chiang's government, celebrat-
ed the war anniversary with enthu-
siasm, displaying large banners ex-
pressing determination to drive the
Japs back to the islands"
Flags dotted the entire city and
hundreds of multi-colored banners
were draped across the main thor
oughfares. Before Chinese military
headquarters in the center of the
city were large portraits of Pres
ident Roosevelt, Prime Minister
Churchill, Premier Josef v. Stain
and GeneralisSimo Chang. Large
throngs gathered throughout the
day before the portraits.