Evening star., 1942-08-24
Chinese Take
2keyAir Bases
From Japanese
Linchwon, Chonesho
Seized; Chuhsien
Airdrome Menoced
MAP on Page A-12.)
Dy the Associated Press.

~ the Associated Press.
CHUNGKING, Aug. 24.-Chi-
nese forces have captured Linch-
wan (Fuchow) in Central Kiang-
81, second most important Japa-
nese base In the province. the
Chinese high command an
nounced tonight.
The Chinese also were reported by
the Central News Agency to have
captured Changsha, only IS miles
west Of Chuhsien, one Of the princi-
pal air bases In East China from
which United States planes could
bomb Japan.
Chinese forces were believed con-
verging on Chursien from the east
and northeast and on Juihong.
Linchwan, on the Fu River 60
miles southeast Of Nanchang. the
main enemy base In the province,
has been under Chinese siege for two
weeks. United States Army planes
supported by the Chinese ground
forces in the early phases Of the
siege.
The city was captured by the jap
anese In June during their drive up
the Fu River toward Flkien Prov
ince. It lies south Of the Chekiang-
Kiangsi railway, along which the
Chinese hitherto have scored their
chief gains in = remarkable come.
back campaign.
Wide Wtthdravak Seen.
The Japanese withdrawal from
Linchwan strengthened widespread
belief here that the invaders were
pulling large forces out Of East
China.
An Army spokesman had esti-
mated recently that the Japanese
had about 10000 troops in Linchwan
ct that time.
A Chinese communique on the fall
Of the city said it was attacked from
several directions by troops which
reached its walls at dawn yesterday,
charged on into the city, and drove
the Japanese out with more than
100 casualties by dusk.
Chinese Menace Air Base.
Chuhsien Is q Chekiang air base
which was the principal objective
of the Japanese summer campaign.
Juihung is only 80 miles east OF their
main Kiangsi base Of Nanchang.
Under heavy pressure, the Jap
Anese were reported hastily with
drawing along the Chekiang-Ki-
angst Railway, which they gained at
heavy cost, anf Chinese press dis
patches said the fall OF Juihung was
expected shortly.
Chinese correspondents entering
Shanghai, one of the railway cities
vacated by the Japanese, found 1t
reduced to heap of blackened
ruins as the result of q three-day
fire set by Japanese incendiary
bombs and grenades.
Chinese forces were fighting
fiercely with the Japanese near
Suichang, about As miles west Of
Lishui In Southwestern Chekiang
Province, after other units widened
the Chinese hold on the Chekiang-
Kiangsi Railway to 110 miles, the
Chinese Central News Agency re-
ported.
Fight RACES Two Days.
The fighting near Suichang has
ragged for two days as Chinese troops
drove eastward toward Lishui, to
which the main Japanese force was
reported withdrawn, the agency
said.
In the fighting for the Chekiang-
Kiangsi Railway, the Chinese said
three of their columns drove east
ward into Chekiang Province and
forced the Japanese to withdraw
from Kiangshan, 20 miles from
Chuhsien.
In Central Kiangsi Province, an.
other Chinese force was reported
moving westward after recapturing
Huangkintu from the Japanese.
Huangkintu Is s miles from Yuki-
ang, reoccupied two days ago. s,
The Chinese were approaching
the southern shores of Poyang Lake
and Nanchang, an important Jap
anese base.
The news agency reported that
Chinese guerrillas raided Japanese
positions on the island of Hainau,
of the South China coast, 81 times
in July.