Evening star., 1944-05-31
Chinese Report
Jap Advances in
.ChangshaDr
Enemy Is Reinforced; ;
.Chungkine Admits
Situation Is Grave
By the Associated Press.

" IL " ~ VI n ~ ", WAY Oh
Throwing in fresh reinforce
ments in their drive on Chang
sha, the Japanese have made
headway against Chinese troops
battling to hold off the invaders
from the thrice-ravaged Human
provincial capital, field dis
patches reported tonight.
A column protecting the left flank
of the main body, which was moving
down the trackless stretch of the
Canton Hankow Railway, was re-
ported to have advanced II miles
south of Tungcheng.
In Hupeh Province, the Japanese
yesterday captured Kuingan, which
served as one of the bases of the
drive on Changteh last year. The
invaders failed in new attempts to
push westward across the Sungtze
River, tributary of the Yangtze.
In Honan Province, the Chinese
said their troops had fought into
the outskirts of Paofeng, about 70
miles south southwest of Chenghsien
and were making a fresh attempt to
recapture nearby Lushan, the oc-
cupied provisional capital which
has changed hands several times in
the last fortnight.
Situation Indeed Grave"
Japanese offensives in Honan and
Human Provinces, and others which
may develop soon elsewhere, have
as their aim the dividing of China
into eastern and western halves. p
H. Chang, counsellor for the Execu-
tive Yuan (counciD, said at a press
conference today.
Emphasizing that the situation is
indeed grave" Chang said the JAP
anese offensives seek to control COM
pletely the trunk line from Hankow
to Canton, occupy or destroy newly
built air bases and forestall any fu-
ture American incursion along
China's southern coast.
Meanwhile, Chinese dispatches re-
ported that authorities at Chang
sha have ordered evacuation of
all nonessential residents. Food
and other necessities were being
stored in the city for its garrison.
Heavy Fighting Develops.
Heavy fighting developed as the
Chinese tried to halt the advance
|of Japanese forces which have
crossed the Milo River, second line
OF defense 40 miles north of Chang
sha.
A communiSue from 1t. Gen. Jo.
seph w. Stilwell's headquarters said
l4th Air Force fighters attacked en-.
emy concentrations yesterday In all
OF China's battle areas. Lightning
and Warhawks attacking installa.
tions at Tanchang in the Yangtzt
River bend encountered is japanese
fighters, shooting down one, possibly
another, and damaging two.
B-25's damaged a bridge at Wan.
pahsa on the Burma -Thailand Dor.
der and also bombed japanese in.
Stallations at Wanling.
Enemy gains were reported on 8
l5-mile front against the Chinese
hrst line OF defense below the Sim
chang River, as well as in support.
ing operations both east and west O;
Lake Tungting, in Northern Hunar
Province. Field dispatches said cas-.
ualties were heavy as the Chinese
battled to hold the invaders from
Changsha.
Japs Mass IL Divisions.
Unoff1cially the Japanese were
estimated to have massed IL diyi.
sions for the attempt to reconquel
the entire Hankow-C Canton rail line
Nine Of these were reported in the
Hankow-Yochow area above Chang.
sha and three in the Canton regior
to the south. The other three di.
visions, in the Canton area, were
reported still idle.
Chungking was under air alarm
for IS minutes last night, but nc
Japanese planes appeared.
A communique dealing with fight
ing in Western Yunnan said Chinese
troops, taking advantage of gooc
weather, resumed their push or
Watien, approximately Is mile:
northeast of Tengyueh, by capturing
Kaolkingkung.
After inf1icting heavy losses or
the enemy during a three-day siege
the Chinese withdrew from Chiao.
tou. Enemy troops diverted to the
northeast from the town were at
tacking Mamien Pass unsuccess-
fully, the communique added.