Evening star., 1944-07-02
laps Open Offensive
North From Canton 10
Cut OFF Coastal Area
BY the Associated Press.

BY the Associated Press.
CHUNGKING, July I. - The
Japanese have launched their long
expected offensive northward from
the Canton area, the Chinese high
command announced tonight. with
the enemy making an effort to Join
with forces driving down the
Canton Hankow railway through
battered Human Province which, If
successful, would be a disaster for
the Chinese.
The general northward advance
began in Kwangtung Province June
%, the Chinese said, reporting that
heavy fighting was in progress
along the route as the invaders
lunged forward in an attmept to
accomplish juncture with their
forces at Hengyang, about 225
miles from the Japanese-held Cam
ton area and some 95 miles north
Of the Kwangtung border.
An unconf1rmed report said Japa-
nese forces also had landed on the
coast Of Fukien Province, near Foo
chow, and were heading for that
city few miles inland Such a
landing, If it occurred, might be
another Japanese move to check
mate a potential American landing
on the China coast and to neutralize
all Allied air bases between the
coast and the Peiping- Hankow and
the Canton Hankow railroads.
Jap Landing Reported.
There also was an unconfirmed
report of Japanese landing at
Pakhoi. on the southwestern coast
Of Kwangtung, which might presage
a thrust through Kwangtung into
Kwangsi Province.
The high command, aware of the
gravity of the situation, was known
to be rallying forces for stand to
prevent junction of Japanese
forces north and south on the
Canton -Hankow railway, but doubts
were expressed openly as to ability
of the Chinese to arrest the on
slaught.
The Chinese high command
claimed battered Hengyang. vital
rail junction of the Canton Hankow
route with lines to Kwangtung and
Kwangsi to the south, still was in
Chinese hands. Evidently, how
ever, fighting ragged within the city.
A rail station apparently had
fallen to the slashing attack by
three Japanese divisions besieging
the city, since a communique of 1t.
Gen. Joseph w. Stilwell's head
quarters told of its bombing by
American planes. Two days ago a
Stilwell headquarters bulletin re-
ported American bombs were hurled
against Japanese positions at
Hengyang.
Compromise Peace May Be Aim.
Observers here regarded the new
drive from Kwangtung as designed
ultimately to give the enemy we'll
entrenched defenses along the
Asiatic mainland, with the aim of
proloneing the war and possibly
seeking compromise peace. rather
than yielding to unconditional sur
render
Junction of enemy forces with the
Hengyang troops would give the
japanese virtually complete control
Of 1000 miles of railway north and
south, all the way from Peiping
through Honan, Hupeh, Human and
Kwangtung Provinces to Canton.
Such an unbroken rail route would
solve japanese supply problems
heretofore dependent upon sea lanes
and river and overland routes, all
open to attack.
1t also would slice China in two,
sealing of the eastern coast against
the eventuality of American land
ings.
The Chinese claimed to have
smashed another japanese attack,
this one from Chekiang Province,
aimed at supporting the drive in
Human, 300 miles to the west, and
to have seized the enemy base of
Chuhsien, about Is miles east of the
Kiangsi border.