Evening star., 1944-07-07
China
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Japanese invaders, confident that
with the help of the United Ma
tions she eventually would drive the
enemy from her soil.
Liberation is close at hand" de-
clared Generalissimo Chang Kali
shek, China's President.
The army spokesman said that
only scattered Japanees remnants,
which are being surrounded and
wiped out. now remain south Of
Leiyang, railway town "a miles
southeast Of Hengyans Leiyang
itself. he added, is firmly in Chinese
hands.
The main force Of japanese is
Iretreating in a northeasterly d.
rection, the spokesman asserted,
and the enemy column which has
been driving northwards from, the
Canton area has been stalled COM
pletely.
Declaring the Chinese counterat-
tack was in full swing in all sectors.
the spokesman said the Chinese had
broken into the japanese strong
point of Liling, about 30 miles
northeast of Hengyang, and that
street fighting was In progress. A
japanese column which had
branched out eastward from Liling
had been pushed back more than 30
miles, he said.
Meanwhile. the Chinese. striking
from the west, were now attacking
the Yolo Mountains across the Slang
River from Changsha, the Japanese
held capital OF Human. Attacking
from the east. they were In the
vicinity of Liuyang, IS miles east Of
Changsha.
The Chinese thus were attacking
the Japanese on both sides and in
front.
Although the siege Of Hengyang
had been lifted, the Japanese still
were on three sides Of the city.
The defenders at Hengyang held
on for IL bitter days before relief
came from Chinese troops.
The spokesman emphasized the
credit due to the American Air
Force which, he said, completely
disorganized Japanese supply lines,
particularly on the main artery, the
Slang River, by its bombing and
straf1ng attacks on hundreds of
boats and small river craft.
These attacks were q great factor,
he said. in turning back the threat
of six Japanese divisions number
ing between 10000 and 1000
men.
The time will come soon, perhaps
before another IL months have
passed, when the Japanese will be
driven forever from Chinese SOIL"
predicted Maj. Gen. Claire L. Chen
nault, commander Of United States
Army Air Forces In China.
I'VE are now drawing into posi-
ton to strike straight at the heart
of the japanese Empire" Gen.
Chennault added.
"As soon as Hitler has been
forced into unconditional surrender
the entire might OF the Allies will
be turned against TOTO and his
henchmen. We will not wait for
that, however, but will strike hard
at the Japanese wherever they may
be found
Gen. Chang said the Japanese
themselves realize "a general coun-
teroffensive from China is immi-
nent" and are striking to consoli-
date and improve their position be-
fore that day arrives.
i The anniversary of the war in
China-celebrated by the Chinese
as the triple seventh" since it was
just seven years ago today (the
seventh day of the seventh month";
that a clash at Marco Polo Bridge
near Peiping set of the war-finds
the Chinese on the defensive in
Honan Province in Central China.
The japanese there have won vir-
tual control of the Peiping- -Hankow
Railway and the Lunghai Line run
ming westward.
The Chinese were marching for
ward in the southwestern province
Of Yunnan. There strong troops
battled westward through the
mountains in an attempt to effect
junction with 1t. Gen. Joseph w.
Stilwell's forces in Northern Bur-
ma. At last reports the gap be-
tween the two forces had been mar
rowed to about rs miles.
|. The Chinese high command an
nounced today that the Chinese had
occupied positions within . mile of
the eastern wall Of Tengchuns. the
main Japanese base north Of the
Burma road, and were pushing an
attack, all along the front against
the Burma road town Of Llngling,
the most important objective Of the
's'l"''a Offensive