THE SITUATION IN CHINA
I. RECENT ACTIVITIES OF THE JAPANESE MILITARY FORCES
ARMY PRESS SECTION, IMPERIAL HEADQUARTERS
Results of July Operations
Although four years have elapsed since the outbreak of the China Affair, there has been no slackening in Japanese military operations. Take July last for instance. During that month in North China alone, no less than 1,755 engagements occurred between the Japanese and Chinese troops, the total effectives involved being estimated at some 230,000. The Chinese side left about 85,000 dead behind in addition to some 2,600 taken prisoner. The Japanese lost about 700 in killed and wounded. During the same period Central China witnessed 540 encounters in which approximately 75,000 Chinese troops took part. Their casualties numbered 4,471 killed and 2,041 captives. On the other hand, our loss was only about 500 dead and injured. The total number of brushes in South China during the same month was 276, the Chinese side mustering some 4,000 soldiers. While the enemy left 855 in killed besides 131 taken prisoner, the Japanese dead and wounded numbered about 50. It will, therefore, be seen that during that single month the total number of battles fought throughout China came up to 2,295, with the aggregated numerical strength of the enemy estimated at about 316,000. The enemy left 13,849 dead behind in addition to 5,134 taken prisoner. As against this the Japanese, in all, suffered about 1,300 in killed and wounded. These figures clearly illustrate the activities of the Japanese expeditionary forces in China.
Rôle of War Plains
No less active parts are being played by our military and naval air forces. Their frequent bombing raids on the interior have undeniably alarmed the Chiang Kai-shek Government, its troops and
the people living in major towns in the hinterland. Such was the sustained intensity of the Japanese aerial attacks in August that Chungking, capital of the Chiang Kai-shek régime, suspended its activity for seventeen days of the month. As a result of Japanese air bombardments, military works, factories and government offices in unoccupied China have been seriously damaged and production of both munitions and essential merchandise has been considerably curtailed.
North China Front
From July 20 to August 24, the Japanese expeditionary forces in North China carried out a mopping-up campaign in and round Yencheng in Northern Kiangsu Province. As Yencheng is noted for salt production, it is obvious that the enemy should attach importance to it. With the Japanese occupation of the town, the enemy effectives under General Han Te-chin have been reduced to dire straits. In this connection, it is significant to note that frequent clashes have been occurring in Northern Kiangsu Province since January between Chungking soldiers and Communist forces, which had succeeded in forcing their way into the region.
The troops under General Yu Hsueh-chung, former warlord of Manchuria, and the forces under Admiral Shen Hung-lieh, former Mayor of Tsingtao, are at loggerheads in Shantung Province. Otherwise peace generally prevails in this area.
In Shansi and Hunan Provinces, the enemy is now concentrating its efforts to reinforce defence fortifications on the south bank of the Yellow River, as a sequel to the crushing blow dealt by our forces to the 200,000 strong army commanded by General Wei Li-huang in the so-called first war-zone during the Shansi campaign in May last.
Sian, capital of Shensi Province, and districts surrounding it are now guarded by Chinese troops under General Hu Tsung-nan belonging to the so-called 8th war-zone.
The hinterland of Inner Mongolia is still infested by Chinese troops under General Fu Tso-yi. A large-scale mopping-up campaign, launched by the Japanese contingents against the Chinese Communist troops on August 14, is still continuing along the
Peking-Hankow and Shihchiachwang-Taiyuan Railways and the outlying region of Chahar Province. The operation is aimed not only at dislodging the Communist troops from their bases but at rendering them hors de combat by inflicting a knock-out defeat. Consequently, it is developing in a thorough-going way, though not in a spectacular manner. Fighting as they do with Communist soldiers who are veritable denizens of mountains, the Japanese expeditionary forces are going through hardships and privations in climbing the rock-bound region for the Reds.
By September 4, the Japanese succeeded in dispersing the Communist forces, and have since been searching one district after another for Red remnants. Up to September 14, the enemy left 2,784 dead behind apart from 1,710, taken prisoner, while the Japanese suffered some 50 in killed.
Simultaneously with the launching of fresh operations in Hunan Province in Central China in the middle of September, a military drive in North China was begun for crossing the New Yellow River. Thanks, apparently, to a remarkable diminution in the enemy's resistance, our advance was more rapid than expected inasmuch as Chengchow, an important strategic point, fell into our hands on October 4. This locality is a junction of the Peking-Hankow and the Lunghai Railways.
Central China Front
The only noteworthy enemy briskness in Central China occurred from midnight of August 25 to the following morning, when Chinese troops under General Ku Chu-tung attempted a mass offensive against Japanese positions at more than 60 points along the Yangtze estuary, by detailing a battalion or regiment of soldiers to each point. In concert with this general onslaught, the Chinese guerillas commenced activities in the Japanese occupied area, but their efficiency was in such a low state that only two cases of terrorism and another two cases of tampering with railway tracks were reported.
Our contingents immediately responded to the Chinese general attack and repulsed the bulk of enemy troops by the morning of August 26. On September 27 and 28, they attempted small sorties at various points, but were immediately driven back. Supported by
air units, our forces made a counter-offensive against them along the entire front, which resumed calmness on September 29.
This Chinese general offensive testified to incompleteness of the reorganization, which the Chungking forces had been undergoing for some time in preparation for their so-called large-scale assault. The debacle which they had sustained in the campaign in Eastern Chekiang Province may have been to blame, but there is no gainsaying the fact that the abortive push, staged by them along the estuary of the Yangtze at midnight of August 25, does not rebound to the credit of Chungking's military authorities, who had been magnifying their armed preparedness regarding a general offensive.
Our forces which occupied some time ago Foochow, capital of Fukien Province, withdrew from that port city on September 3, following a considerable easing of the local situation.
In the Hankow sector, the Japanese expeditionary forces on September 18 launched most successful campaign against the Chinese troops in the so-called 9th war-zone under General Hsueh Yueh south of Yochow. To explain more fully, several Japanese divisions which had been massing south of Yochow opened attack on September 18. After dislodging some dozen Chinese battalions from their positions on the Sintsiang River, the Japanese moved south toward the Mi River. At this juncture, the Chinese 26th Army, part of the Chinese forces, attempted to outflank the Japanese from the direction of Tungcheng. Scenting this Chinese move, the extreme left column of our forces resorted to tactics for encircling the 26th Army, which consequently was annihilated. Meanwhile, other columns pushed forward, by contacting and crushing enemy resistance, which stood in their way. The result was that the Chinese 4th Army was destroyed, the 99th Army slipped away sidewise and the 37th Army was wiped out. The enemy had constructed quadruple defence lines between Yochow and Changsha, capital of Hunan Province. Such was the lightning speed of the Japanese assault that the enemy found it impossible to offer any stiff opposition, by falling back upon those defence lines. Thus, the Japanese Hayabuchi detachment entered Changsha on September 27, while on September 29 another Japanese column drove further south and entered Chuchow, junction of the Canton-Hankow Railway and the Chuchow-Pingsiang Railway and a town situated some 30 miles to the south of Changsha.
A Japanese naval detachment cooperated with the military effectives in the Changsha campaign, by operating on Lake Poyang so as to divert the enemy.
The Changsha campaign was concluded over ten days earlier than expected, thanks to a plan of operations carefully worked out on the basis of mature experience and also to full training of our combatants. The outcome of the expedition has demonstrated that the Chinese army in the 9th war-zone, reputed to be the best equipped and strongest of the Chinese forces, is not possessed of much fighting ability against the Japanese army. The enemy endured more than 80,000 in killed and wounded, while the loss sustained by our side was about 500 in killed. Having attained their objective of operations so rapidly, the Japanese expeditionary forces left Changsha on October 1 to return to their original positions.
Taking advantage of the departure of our troops from Changsha after a stay of four days, Chungking put out a fabricated claim that its army had driven out the Japanese from Changsha by inflicting heavy losses. This absurd story was accepted at its face value by the British and American public for a time. In this connection, it may be mentioned that the Japanese expeditionary forces in China, which have already captured key points essential for the disposal of the China Affair, are now conducting their military operations for the purpose of destroying the enemy's fighting strength, not for occupying any more territory.
During the Changsha campaign, which lasted almost ten days, eleven Chinese planes, all S. B. bombers, made their appearance for the first time in many months. One of them landed near Ichang on the Yangtze, the gateway to Chungking, and surrendered to the Japanese military authorities to their pleasant surprise.
South China Front
The Chinese soldiers in the 7th war-zone under command of General Yu Han-mou, namely in Northern Kwangtung Province, apparently are now endeavouring hard to reconnoiter the movements of the Japanese forces.
Indo-China and Burma Road
The Chinese troops in the so-called 4th war-zone, that is, along the border of French Indo-China, are making frantic efforts to
construct defence works against the Japanese drive, which they think will be inevitable, by setting up fresh fortifications along the border and sea-coast and by demolishing roads.
Various rumours are current regarding the reported joint defence between Great Britain, the United States and the Chungking régime in the two provinces of Yunnan and Kweichow. It is a well-known fact that the Chungking and Yunnan authorities are frantically pushing repair and defence works on the Burma road, which is the only aid-to-Chiang Kai-shek channel from abroad. A detachment of troops from Kweichow has been sent to guard the Burma highway.
II. NAVAL FORCES IN ACTION
NAVY PRESS SECTION, IMPERIAL HEADQUARTERS
Naval Air Force
To facilitate the withdrawal of Japanese military and naval forces from Foochow, capital of Fukien Province, our naval air force, which had been assigned to the coast of Fukien Province visited Foochow, Santu and Fuching on September 1 and bombed and machine-gunned troop concentrations of the Chinese 7th and 80th divisions, inflicting severe losses, and on the following day renewed the attack in same vein. On September 3, it bombed and machine-gunned the enemy bases on the north bank of the Min River east of Foochow, and also key points on the sea coast while storming the enemy near Foochow and Mamoi. On September 4, it made reconnaissance flights over Foochow, Chwanshi Island and Santu Island and attacked troop congestions, which were sighted.
On September 18, when our military forces started their drive on Changsha, capital of Hunan Province, the naval air force, acting in collaboration, rained aerial missiles on positions at Yuanliaoshan, Yingtien and Leishihshan in Northern Hunan Province, causing heavy damages. On September 24, their positions near the mouth of the Sikiang River were effectively battered three times, while on September 25 and 26 enemy field artillery emplacements near Tumitse were repeatedly hit. Enemy bases at Tumitse and Wulungtse were bombed and destroyed on September 28.
Duties of Naval Craft
Every Japanese warship in China waters is in charge of a specified area. The naval craft, besides conducting blockade, inspection of vessels, survey of water routes, and sweeping of mines, are engaged in halting the supply of aid-to-Chiang Kai-shek materials. Landing parties are set on shore at various points of the coast or islands in case of necessity for maintaining peace and order. In the Chushan Group of islands off Hangchow Bay and also in Hainan Island, the landing parties are not only maintaining peace and order, but making substantial contributions to the development of industries, by looking after industrial rehabilitation.
In the meantime, the landing parties on September 2 suppressed bandits at Taiho north of Tsingtao. On September 7, they successfully attacked some 300 bandits at a point southwest of Wenchuancheng, which stands in the northern part of Shantung Peninsula. On September 9 and 10, a squad of our bluejackets landed at the southern base of Yuntai Hill north of Lienyunchiang, the eastern terminus of the Lunghai Railway, and restored peace and order there, by liquidating lawless elements.
While cooperating with the military forces in a mopping-up campaign, the Japanese gunboats on the Yangtze estuary were engaged in special patrol of Lake Tahu (Great Lake) from September 11 to September 14. On September 14, the Japanese gunboats opened fire on a strong body of Chinese troops and routed them with heavy losses. The landing parties in Hainan Island captured enormous quantities of arms and ammunition, by attacking Chinese troops about thirty times.
A powerful detachment of the Japanese squadron on the Yangtse River started action at midnight of September 17 and crossed Lake Tungting by escorting transports carrying Japanese troops. On September 18, at 7:20 a.m., the detachment landed a party of bluejackets at the base of Siahushan Hill and occupied it. Meanwhile, the Japanese warships on Lake Tungting in conjunction with the attack started by Japanese troops on enemy positions at Chingshan and Yuanliaoshan east of it bombarded retreating enemy forces. On September 19, the naval craft in concert with the military operations discovered and disposed of seven mines in the lower course of the Siangkiang River. The same afternoon, the naval
force occupied Leishishan. Part of the landing party in cooperation with the military force captured Luchiao and Chiumatse.
On September 20, the naval force devoted its attention mainly to an attack on the enemy positions in the direction of Wanglinghu. The following day, enemy mountain artillery positions at a point two kilometres downstream of Yingtien were bombarded and destroyed, while 57 mines were discovered and disposed of in front of Leishihshan. This, coupled with a successful blow-up of a big boom, resulted in opening a water-way. On the other hand, the landing party cooperated with the land force in attacking Lulintan and razed enemy positions nearby. A group of Japanese warships advanced off the southeastern shore of Lake Tungting and silenced enemy activities at the mouth of the Siangkiang River one after another, while a mine-sweeping unit on September 22 sailed up the Siangkiang River and made a forced reconnaissance of the water-way south of Leishihshan. On September 23, the water-way up to a point four kilometres upstream of Leishihshan was completely opened, while mine-sweeping operations were in full swing from the Pingkiang River to Hopotan via Shumaihu Lake. The naval force also collaborated with the land contingent in the latter's advance into Lulintan. Paiyuchi was occupied on the morning of September 24 and Yingtien on the same afternoon. On September 25, the Kiaokow channel was opened, and mine-sweeping operations off Yingtien were completed. The water-way up to a point 2 kilometres upstream of Yingtien was cleared on September 26, while that to a point 10 kilometres upstream of Yingtien was removed of hindrances on September 28.
Part of the Japanese naval force, operating in the waters near Canton started sailing up the West River. Another detachment early on the morning of September 20 covered landing of our troops on the shore of Kwonghoi in face of the enemy, and continued its protecting operations till the following day. The Japanese naval detachment, which sailed up the Hunkiang River, occupied Sunchong on September 23, while sweeping mines and removing obstructions. One more detachment, which went up the North River, succeeded in clearing the water-way to a point 10 miles downstream of Chingkuan on September 27 in cooperation with military forces. Another naval unit, which operated off Kwonghoi, effectively attacked nine armed junks as well as enemy troops.
The Blockade Squadron
The Japanese squadron, which was engaged in blockade operations in China waters, visited 23,178 junks and motor-boats on the Yangtze estuary and off Eastern Chekiang Province and 26,904 junks and motor-boats on the Whangpoo River. In North China waters, 3,400 junks were inspected. Out of them, 79 were dealt with as those of a hostile character. Thus the material supply to Chiang Kai-shek is being effectively suspended by our blockade.
The number of mines, discovered and disposed of during the month of September totalled 115 in the Siangkian River and 703 in South China waters, aggregating 818. In addition, there were 101 mines, discovered and disposed of during the Changsha campaign in the latter part of October.