Evening star., 1942-05-18
ChineseRemove
Threat of.Japs
AgainstPaoshdn
West Bank of SuIween
Cleared Of Enemy,
Chunekine Asserts
Bv tire Associated Press.

CHUNGKING, May 18.-The
western bank of the Salween
River, northeast Of Lungling in
Yunnan Province, has been
cleared Of Japanese, a Chinese
communique said today, indicat-
ing an enemy threat to the i'm
portant Burma road city of
Paoshan had been removed.
The Chinese were reported ad-
vancing in this region, thrusting
back the japanese who had driven
to the Salween along the Burma
road.
Another Japanese force advancing
northWard between the Salween and
Mekong Rivers in the eastern Shan
states of Burma, some $50 miles
south of the Yunnan battlefields,
was said to have renewed its attacks
after twice being repulsed by the
Chinese. This fighting was south
east Of Kengtung, capital Of one Of
the Shan states.
British Withdraw Slowly.
British dispatches relayed here in
dicated the British forces at the
western side of Burma were with
drawing slowly in the Chindwin
River Valley and the main body
was said to be within 20 miles of
the eastern Indian Province Of
Assam.
Fresh British troops of Gen. Sir
Archibald P. Wavelrs Indian COM
mand were said to be replacing the
tired units of Gen. Harold Alexan-
der's forces as they streamed across
the rugged, mountainous frontier.
The Chungking communique re-
ported further progress for the
large-scale campaign the Japanese
launched last week in the east coast
province of Chekiang, south of
Shanghai.
1t said the japanese column which
is driving southwark along the rail-
way from Siaoshan, just across the
Chientang River from Hangchow,
provincial capital, reached a point
near Chuki, IS miles south Of the
river.
The Chekiang offensive is believed
intended to prevent use Of bases in
that province from which raids
perhaps by United States planes-on
Japan's homeland and colony Of
Formosa could be launched.
Pour Across Salween.
In the Yunnan fighting, Chinese
-reinforcements were reported pour
ing across the Salween to smash at
Japanese positions around Lungling
and Tengyueh.
Tengyueh, now held by the jap
anese, is Is miles west of the Sal
ween and IS miles northwest of
Lungling. Paoshan, next objective OF
the japanese on the Burma road. is
l80 miles by the highway from the
Burma border.
Chinese quarters said the Chinese
expeditionary force in Burma was
largely intact except for one divi-
sion which suffered fairly heavy
losses in eastern Burma
They emphasized that this body
of soldiers could easily return to
China If 1t desired, but 1t would re-
main in Burma and attempt to
harass and exhaust the enemy with
mobile warfare.
New Bases Planned.
The Chinese newspaper Ia Kung
Pao said the C. E. F. planned to
build new bases in eastern and
northern Burma.
1t added that the Japanese oper-
ations largely were confined to rail-
ways and highways and that the
Chinese forces had shifted to the
hills, where they could meet the
Japanese on even terms. To attack
in the hills, the Japanese would
have to leave their heavier arma-
ment behind, 1t was said.
The very presence of these
troops will give the Japanese sleep
less nights in plans to invade India
or intensity the attack on Yunnan," +"
the newspaper said.