The Situation in China
I. Development of the Campaign West of the Han River
Bureau of Information, War Department
1. General Situation
Some 20 divisions of Chinese troops were defeated by the Japanese forces in a three-day battle on the Paiho River, starting May 19, and driven into Northern Hupeh Province. East of the Han River from the Sinyang-Suihsien-Anlu line a clean-up campaign was initiated on May 1.
Meanwhile, operations against enemy positions to the west of that river, held by 350,000 men, were undertaken.
2. Crossing of the Han River
The Japanese forces crossed to the west bank of the Han River in two formations, one at Wangchiachai and Shangwangchiatsi southeast of Siangyang on the night of May 31, the other near Kiukowchen and Kwantowchienshih.
3. Development of the Campaign
Siangyang was taken early on June 1, after which the column swung south and reached the Chuanwantow-Liki-Losiangkwan line 4 days later to occupy Kingmen on June 6 and Tangyang on June 10 respectively.
The second column, more to the south, had meanwhile captured Chienyang on June 7 and Kingchow and Shasi the following day. Pushing further west, they occupied Ichang on the evening of June 11.
4. Significance of the Campaign
Surprise was the principal characteristic of the above movement so that the Chinese retired in confusion, leaving enormous quantities of arms and ammunition behind.
Between June 1 and June 12 they had lost 18,000 dead and 3,531 prisoners. While the Japanese suffered about 50 killed up to June 6. Booty included 44 artillery pieces, 150 machine-guns, 2,895 rifles, large quantities of ammunition, provisions and fodder.
II. Activities of the Naval Air Force
Publicity Bureau, Navy Department
Sustained attacks are now being made on Chungking, seat of the Chiang Kai-shek Government, by the naval and military air forces, and on the Yunnan Railway, the new Southwestern highway connecting Kaobang in French Indo-China with Kweiyang, capital of Kweichow Province, and other trunk roads.
1. Cooperation with the Ground Forces
The Han River campaign started on May 1. On May 16, Japanese naval air-units based upon Hankow, visited Icheng, Taokow and Lihokow, destroying munition depots, piers and military craft.
In concert with the ground forces, operations were undertaken against Laokokow, headquarters of Li Tsung-jen, Commander-in-Chief of the Chinese forces, Siangyang and Hwanghotsi. The retreating enemy was pursued along the Paiho and Tangho rivers, and Neisiang, west of Nayang, and Maitsungchen were bombed. Siangyang was again raided on May 31.
A mopping-up campaign by our ground forces in which the naval air-unit participated was started east of Hukow, Kiangsi Province, late in May. Jaochow, Tsingyang and other places south of Hukow, enemy positions north of Hukow and bases east of Lake Panyang became targets of attack.
On May 27 several thousand Chinese troops which had surrounded the Japanese at Chihchow and Tuchang were dispersed.
Between June 1 and June 7 Wuanyen (west of Icheng), Kucheng (west of Siangyang), Nanchang, Kingmen, Shihkiaoyi, Kingchow, Ichang, Kiangkow and Shwanglienchang were visited in turn by our naval fliers and military objectives destroyed. Tanyang, Anfu and Tsikiho (east of Ichang) were also attacked. And strategic points including Tungshih, Kiangkow, Yuanshih, Chikkiang, Itu, Sungtze and Paiyang, between Ichang and Shasi, raided.
On June 9 and 10, Ichang and its neighbourhood was furiously bombed, and Chungking raided. On June 11 the Japanese military forces entered Ichang, but operations north and west of that city were continued.
2. Cooperation in the Blockade of the China Coast
On May 17, naval planes raided Wenchow, Santuao and Hinghwa and Foochow, and destroyed some of the highways out of these cities.
3. Attacks on the Yunnan Railway
At the end of the month Meilu, Suikai, Tinpak and Yangkiang on the
Luichow peninsula received the attentions of our flying-units and the Yunnan Railway's service again paralysed.
Military works at Pingma, Kweiyang and Poseh and strategic positions in Northwestern Kwangsi Province were raided, including Fengyi, Lungshan, Hwaiyuan, Ishan, Nantain, Tesheng, Hochih and Kweishun.
4. Large-Scale Bombing Operations Against Chungking
Following attacks on the Chinese airbases in Szechuan Province late in April, the Japanese naval air force carried out a night raid on Wenkiang and Tapingsze near Chengtu and also on Suining on May 18. Several grounded planes were accounted for. Since May 19, Chungking, Chengtu, Ipin, Liangshan, and Suining have been raided repeatedly, and enemy planes to the number of 90 destroyed. This has meant a fatal blow to the Chinese air force.
From May 26 to 30 Chungking was subjected to a series of bombings of the military establishments, including an arsenal, government buildings, the wireless station, and the telegraph office. Six days later these were renewed by combined naval and military planes.