Malaya
During the night, the population of Johore Bharu revolted and chased the few Japanese policemen of the city. All Japanese troops in the area were besieging Singapore and the city inhabitants, maybe afraid of being the targets of Singapore bombers, decided to support the British army.
Kuantan airfield is bombed during the night by 6 Blenheim and during the day by 28 LB-30. In the morning, 26 Betty and 77 Nells from Saigon attacked Singapore airfield. They were escorted by 28 Zeroes that shot down without loss 7 (2 Wirraway, 2 Sea Gladiator, 2 P-40B, 1 P-35A) of the 31 fighters flying CAP but the other reach the bombers and shot down 11 Nells. 2 more Nells fell to AA fire but their bombs destroyed on the ground 3 Blenheim IV, 3 Blenheim IF, 2 B-17E and 1 Il-4c.
In three raids, 67 B-17E and 75 medium bombers bombed the 5th, 33rd and 55th Divisions near Singapore, losing 2 Blenhiem IV to AA fire. The Japanese troops (120 000 men) attacked the city anyway, defended by 67 000 able men. Engineers reduced the fortifications to level 7. 850 Japanese and 1000 Allied fell during the day.
In the evening a dmaaged AV sank in Saigon port with 8 Jakes and 4 Petes aboard.
Borneo
During the night, the badly damaged D Michishio was achieved by two torpedoes fired by the Dutch SS KXV NW of Tomini. During the day, another Dutch submarine was attacked twice by planes off Tarakan but escaped.
In the afternoon, 7 Vildebeest and 5 CW-21B attacked Kuching airfield. AA fire shot down two biplanes.
PI
Manila port was bombed by 20 Ki-48 and 20 Ki-21 from Aparri. Taytay, Palawan Island, was taken by 90 paratroops during the day.
Celebes
The 56th Bde continuedt o land in Kendari during the night and day. The base was bombed in the morning by 13 Betties from Amboina, that heavily damaged an AK in the port. This ship was scuttled in the evening, when the Allied garrison (3 INF batllions and 2 Base Forces) retreated northwards under attack of the 56th Bde, that took the base and the ressources in good shape. Five aircraft (2 Do24, 2PBY and 1 Brewster 339) were found on the airfield.
In the evening, the SS USS Salmon tried to attack a CV TF (two reported) W of Macassar but was chased by 4 DDs.
Australia
Nothing to report
Rabaul-New Guinea
Japanese troops landed in Manokrawi, Western New Guinea.
China
In the south, 7 Chinese Corps (53 000 men) launched at Hengchow a deliberate attack against surrounded Japanese troops (104th Div and 20th Eng Rgt, 28 000 men). The attack achieved a 1 to 1 ratio. Losses were 210 Japanese and 573 Chinese.
In the center, Japanese troops launched another deliberate attack at Changsha. Forts were reduced to level 2 by engineers. Even if the assault was still at 0 to 1, Japanese losses (3437) were inferior to Chinese ones (4070).
In the north, 3 Japanese Brigades reoccupied the undefended city of Hsinyang and 4 Divisions the also undefended city of Kaifeng.
Pacific
NE of Lihu, Hawai Islands, the SS I-23 met 5 US DDs while changing of patrol area and was sunk by 3 DCs from the DD USS King.
Allied engineers expanded the airfield of Luganville to size 2.
Malaya
During the night, 11 LB-30 bombed the port of Saigon and hit the CL Yura, that blew up when her magazines were hit and sank, and 2 transports.
In two raids, 56 B-17E and 74 medium bombers bombed the 5th and Imperial Guard Divisions near Singapore.
Japanese paratroops were dropped on Johore Bharu and quickly crushed the revolt of the town.
Borneo
Nothing to report
PI
Manila port was bombed by 5 Ki-48 and 19 Ki-21 from Aparri.
In the evening, an ASW group chased unsuccessfully SS Shark north of Luzon.
Celebes
A Japanese CV TF was reported W of Macassar but was covered by clouds in the morning. In the afternoon, 3 T.IVa took off from Macassar to attack it under escort by 22 P-40E of the 21st FS and 24th FG. They met a CAP of 71 A6M2 Zero that shot down 20 P-40 and the three torpedo planes at the cost of 2 Zeroes. The Japanese CV launched a raid by 31 Zeroes, 22 Vals and 24 Kates on the other way and sank off Macassar an AK without meeting any fighter.
Australia
29 IJNAF bombers fro mWyndham bombedt he Darwin Defense Brigade 420 miles S of Darwin on the railway.
Rabaul-New Guinea
A Japanese NLF occupied Manokrawi, Western New Guinea.
Japanese engineers expanded the port of Rabaul to size 5.
China
In the south, Chinese troops NW of Canton were bombed by 11 Ki-51 and 46 Ki-48.
7 Chinese Corps (53 000 men) launched at Hengchow a schock attack against surrounded Japanese troops (104th Div and 20th Eng Rgt, 28 000 men). The attack achieved a 4 to 1 ratio but Japanese had no way to retreat and fought like demons on their positions. Losses were 214 Japanese and 800 Chinese.
In the center, Japanese troops were bombed by 20 SB-2c in two raids and then bombed Changsha with artillery. Fighters of both sides met over the city and 1 I-16c, 1 I-153c and 1 Nate were shot down.
Pacific
NE of Suva, the SS I-10 attacked in the vening a convoy and torpedoed a troop-laden AP but the two US DDs of the escort sank her.
Around the same time, SS USS Tambor attacked a convoy 240 miles W of Wake but her torpedoes fail to detonate. 8 PG searched her without success.
Malaya
During the night, Japan partisans in Kuala Lumpur reported that Allied troops were landing near the undefended town. Aerial recons later showed they were Dutch troops.
In the afternoon, 17 Betties and 34 Nells flew without escort from Saigon to attack a convoy off Singapore. 32 Allied fighters intercepted them but they only shot down 9 Nells and 2 Betties and 39 torpedo bombers reached the ship. They missed 2 DD and 1 AK but sank the 3 other ships attacked, the DD USS Peary (2 torps) and 2 AK (4 torps each).
In two raids, 62 B-17E and 83 medium bombers bombed the 55th and Imperial Guard Divisions near Singapore. The Japanese launched another shock attack but it was a costly failure. 5274 Japanese casualties (not counting about 300 under the aeiral bombardment) and 1121 Allied were counted at the end of the day.
Borneo
During the night, 6 LB-30 from Singapore dropped bombs in the jungle near Brunei. Japanese patrols found the craters and wondered what was their target.
During the day Japanese aircraft attacked two Allied submarines, each twice, off Jolo and Tarakan.
PI
Manila port was bombed by 19 Ki-48 and 21 Ki-21 from Aparri. AA fire shot down one but the last Allied cripple in the port was hit another time.
Celebes
The Dutch submarine O24 attacked a convoy east of Kendari during the night and heavily damaged an AP with one torpedo. She evaded the 9 escorts.
Australia
Nothing to report
Rabaul-New Guinea
Japanese troops landed in Hollandia.
China
Canton airmen attacked two Chinese Corps with 42 Ki-48 but the Chinese troops (7 Corps) launched another schock attack against surrounded Japanese troops (104th Div and 20th Eng Rgt, 28 000 men). The attack achieved a 6 to 1 ratio but Japanese continued to fight to the last. Losses were 195 Japanese and 344 Chinese.
In the center, another day of aerial battles over Changsha opposed 28 Chinese and 13 Japanese planes. The Tojos reached the bombers and the Chinese lost 3 SB-2c, 2 I-16c and 1 I-153c while the IJAAF suffered no loss. Japanese troops were missed by most bombs and continued to pound the city with artillery fire.
Pacific
In the evening, the SS I-18 attacked a troop-laden AP east of French Frigate Shoals and damaged her with one tropedo, then escaping the escort (a DD).
Malaya
75 B-17E and 76 medium bombers bombed the Japanese lines near Singapore, hitting the Imperial Guard, 5th and 33rd Divisions.
The 300 Dutch soldiers who landed yesterday in Kuala Lumpur chased Japanese engineers and occupied the base without meeting any Japanese soldier.
Borneo
During the night 9 LB-30 from Singapore bombed the oilfields of Brunei and scored some hits.
PI
16 Ki-48 and 16 Ki-21 from Appari bombed Manila.
The American submarine S-40 was attacked 6 times off Jolo by Japanese aircrafts and two Petes claimed hits in the afternoon.
Celebes
Nothing to report
Australia
Japanese recons reported that Allied troops were still retreating towards Alice Springs and Charter Towers.
New Guinea - Rabaul
Japanese Navy troops occupy Hollandia.
Pacific
The Japanese AP badly damaged off Wake by USN warships sank in the evening between Wake and Mariannas.
China
Japanese artillery pounded Changsha and disabled 533 Chinese.
The 7 Chinese corps in Hengchow continued to launch shock attacks (at 7 to 1) against the surrounded Japanese and casualties grew higher than the latter days: 429 Japanese and 910 Chinese.
Burma
53 Ki-21 Sally escorted by 36 Oscars took off from Bangkok to meet Rangoon but met over the target 32 Hurricanes (of 4 Sqns) and 7 Lysanders. In the subsequent air battle, the Oscars shot down 3 Hurricanes and 4 Lysanders but lost 14 aircraft (including 1 destroyed by a Lysander) and were unable to protect the bombers. Allied fighters shot down 10 Sallies and badly disorganized the remainder that lost 5 more aircraft over the target to AA fire and were only able to put 4 bombs on the targeted airfield. 3 more Sallies were lost in accidents.
Farther north, Allied engineers continued to prepare heavy bomber bases. Calcutta airfield is now size 5.
Malaya
Bad weather cancelled night operations from Singapore.
78 B-17E, 88 medium bombers and 14 fighters bombed the Japanese lines near Singapore, hitting the Imperial Guard and the 33rd Division. Japanese losses were around 250 men and 10 guns, as usual.
Borneo
Nothing to report
PI
Nothing to report
Celebes
Nothing to report
Australia
Nothing to report
New Guinea - Rabaul
Nothing to report
Pacific
In the afternoon, the SS I-16 saw two USN DM north of Palmyra Atoll and attacked but her torpedoes missed. The two USN ships counter-attacked and as usual the Japanese submarine was sunk, this time by four Mk 6 depth charges.
An American AP hit some days before by a submarine sank during the day west of Suva.
China
Air battles restarted over Changsha, as 18 SB-2c escorted by 9 I-16c attacked two Japanese divisions and met 4 Tojos and 10 Nates. Chinese pilots were not so good as one month ago and without losses Japanese fighters shot down 3 I-16c and damaged several SB, but the lack of power of the Nate's MG reduces the Chinese losses as all damaged planes reached their base. The Japanese ground forces launched another deliberate attack and engineers reduced fortifications to level 2 (again?). 180 000 Japanese faced 150 000 Chinese and losses were respectively 3259 and 2270.
Chinese forces were reinforced in Hengchow. Now 8 Chinese corps launched a shock attack (at 11 to 1) against the surrounded Japanese, who continued to fight like tigers. 124 Japanese and 848 Chinese fell during the day.
9 Nates were shot down vs. 2 buffaloes (IIRC) Another 8 nates and approx 20 oscars and 20 sallies were destroyed on the ground. The airfield was left burning and cratered.
In other news, chinese airforce bombed Wuhan airfield and destroyed a sonia there. Attacks on surrounded japanese continued in Hengchow, this time the losses were 200 japanese vs 350 chinese.
Following reports are based only on combat reports and more details will be added later (I was away for the week-end):
22 January 1942
Burma
Nothing to report
Malaya
As usual, Blenheim bombed Kuantan airfield at night.
130 heavy bombers, 67 medium and 28 escorts raided Kuantan airfield and devastated it after decimating the 25 Nates defending it. Exact losses of both sides are not yet known.
Borneo
Nothing to report
PI
Japanese troops land in San Jose during the day.
Celebes
Nothing to report
Australia
Nothing to report
New Guinea - Rabaul
Nothing to report
Pacific
Nothing to report
China
22 SB-2c and 16 escorts bombed Wuhan airfield, defended only by 3 Nates, and destroyed a Sonia on the ground.
Only artillery fire was reported in Changsha. Chinese continued to launch shock attacks in Hengchow (at 13 to 1), where 215 Japanese and 358 Chinese fell.
____________________________________________
23 January 1942
Unknown places
Allied submarines hit a TK and a DD, heavily damaging both.
Burma
Nothing to report
Malaya
As usual, Blenheim bombed Kuantan airfield at night.
Borneo
2 CA and 6 CL bombarded Balikpapan during the night and hit the base and two damaged DD in the port.
130 heavy and 75 medium bombers from Singapore raided Kuching airfield and devastated it. BUt it was almost empty and only 1 Zero was destroyed on the ground.
PI
40 bombers from Aparri attacked Manila and hit a damaged AK in the port. A Dutch AK reached Manila but is attacked and put on fire by 9 Ki-49 coming also from Aparri.
Japanese occupied the undefended town of San Jose.
Celebes
Nothing to report
Australia
Nothing to report
New Guinea - Rabaul
During the night, the SS I-172 attacked in surface the AK Ohioan south of New Guinea and claimed her as sunk. Report not confirmed yet.
Pacific
Nothing to report
China
10 escorted SB-2c attacked a Japanese division in Changsha and met 4 Tojos and 18 Nates. Both sides claimed victories bu the exact losses are not known yet.
Only artillery fire was reported in Changsha. Chinese continued to launch shock attacks in Hengchow (at 11 to 1), where 139 Japanese and 695 Chinese fell.
24 January 1942
Lost my notes but the main action of the day was in Malaya. A new raid by Singapore bombers on Kuantan that destroyed 112 planes on the ground. At the same time, 168 Japaneses bombers and 54 Zeroes attacked Singapore, where about 20 planes of each side were shot down in air combat and 31 Allied planes destroyed on the ground.
Malaya
As usual, Blenheim bombed Kuantan airfield at night.
During the night, Japanese troops landed in Mersing.
In the morning, 114 heavy and 65 medium bombers (with 11 escorts) bombed Kuantan airfield and destroyed 112 aircrafts on the ground: 61 Ki-21 Sally, 36 Ki-27 Nates and 15 Ki-43 Oscars. Their only loss was an Il-4c lost in an accident.
At the same time, Singapore airfield was attacked by 96 Betties, 72 Nells and 54 Zeroes from Saigon. They met 35 fighters flying CAP (7 different types) and a shar pair battle saw 15 Zeroes, 6 Betties, 2 Nells, 5 Hurricanes, 5 Buffaloes, 4 P-40B, 3 P-40E, 2 Wirraway and 2 Sea Gladiator fall. Japanese bombers reached anyway the target and despite heavy AA fire that shot down 4 Nells and 2 Betties destroyed 31 aircraft on the ground: 11 Blenheim I, 5 Blenheim IF, 4 Wirraway, 3 Hurricanes, 3 Vildebeests, 2 FK.51, 1 P-40B, 1 P-40E and only one heavy bomber, a LB-30.
Japanese troops reached Kuala Lumpur, that is still held by Dutch troops. In Singapore only artillery fire was reported.
Borneo
During the night, SS Permit missed an AP 180 miles E of Tarakan and was in return hit by a Type 91 depth charge dropped by a PC.
At the same time, the cruiser force (2 CA and 6 CL) that hit Balikpapan last night bombarded Tarakan, doing some damaged and 150 victims.
PI
36 bombers from Aparri attacked Manila. The Dutch AK still off the port was attacked again by 9 Ki-49 and took two more bombs.
Celebes
During the night, SS Salmon attacks an IJN TF (a CA was seen) SW of Macassar. Her torpedoes hit a DD but fail to detonate. Four DD then chased her and one hit her with two DCs, doing heavy damage.
Australia
Nothing to report
New Guinea - Rabaul
In the morning, a Japanese submarine attacked an unescorted AP just off Port Moresby and hit her with one torpedo.
Pacific
Nothing to report
China
9 SB-2c escorted by 5 I-16c attacked a Japanese division near Changsha and were intercepted by 4 Tojos and 18 Nates that shot down 2 I-16 and a bomber.
54 Ki-48 and 31 Ki-51 from Canton bombed 2 Chinese Corps NW of the town.
A new deliberate attack was launched in Changsha by 178 000 Japanese and reduced the forts to level 1 but still achieved only 0 to 1 ratio against the 148 000 Chinese holding the town. 3583 Japanese and 4580 Chinese casualties were reported.
In Hengchow, the Chinese troops (now 9 Corps, 63 000 men) started a more methodical and slow cleaning campain and launched a deliberate attack (at 2 to 1) against the 26 000 surrounded Japanese. And this day saw Japanese casualties (401) bigger than the Chinese ones (325).
I'll leave the full report to AmiralLaurent but the Kido Butai showed up at Sorebaja and sank CL Danae, CL Sumatra and DD Pope with a port strike. Numerous merchantmen were also damaged.
The japs have played a very good game up to this point, the flanking move down through Ambonia and to northern australia was brilliant and has really cornered the allied forces.
I did the turn this morning before going to work and will write the full report here tonight. BUt a first comment may be made about the Soerabaja strike. It was in one sense successfull but probably missed its main target, the deadly Force Z that had allready sunk much too many Japanese ships.
Japanese air units' orders were naval attack with secondary targets as Soerabaja port and airfield. Clouds covered the area in the morning and lifted in the afternoon but naval search planes only reported one DD off the port, so the airmen attacked the base. Reports of returning airmen showed 4 CA in a TF off the port, so my intimate conviction was that Force Z was lucky today.
Outside the 3 sunk ships, 2 DD and around 15 tranports were hit and heavily damaged or left on fire.
Hi, Rapunzel, thanks for the kind word. Here is the detailed report:
25 January 1942
Malaya
For once, no air activity was reported today in the area.
Only artillery fire was reported in Singapore. Two Japanese NLF took respectively Mersing and Kuala Lumpure, where the 500 Dutch raiders surrendered after doing some damage to the ressource centers of the town.
In the evening a damaged Japanese TK sank in Saigon.
Borneo
During the day, Japanese troops land in Tarakan. The invasion convoy was attacked by torpedo planes (24 Beauforts, 10 Swordfishes and 2 T.IVa, with 6 Brewster as escort) from Balikpapan. They met no Cap and hit an AP (2 torpedoes) and 1 PG but both survived.
PI
During the night, Japanese troops landed in Legaspi. Southern Luzon is still in Allied hands and has not been attacked yet, except a diversion landing on the first day of the war.
Manila port was bombed by 18 Ki-48 and 20 Ki-21 from Aparri. AA fire shot down one Sally but the last Allied cripple in the port was hit another time. 15 Ki-49 continued to attack the Dutch AK unloading in the port and scored 6 more hits.
In the evening a damaged Japanese AP sank east of Luzon.
Java
To support the Tarakan landing, the Kido Butai launched a raid against Soerabaja in the hope to surprise and sink the Force Z. The CVs sailed to a laucnh position 150 miles SE of the port and launched patrols in the morning but clouds coverd the area and no Allied ships was reported. So a raid against the base was prepared and launched in the afternoon. 37 Zeroes, 98 Vals and 114 Kates flew to Soerabaja. They met only 6 Hawk 75A but Dutch pilots managed to escape the Zeroes, that shot down only one, and reached the bombers, damaging some (all returned to their CVs). The attack hit the airfield, where 2 Martin 139 and 1 Hawk were destroyed, but the main target was the port. The two biggest ships, the CL Sumatra and Danae, were repeadtly hit and sank. The DD Pope was destroyed by an ammuntion explosion. 2 other DDs and 5 transports were reported as heavily damaged and 10 more transports on fire. The returning airmen reported 4 CAs off the port and it might well be the Force Z, that was saved by clouds.
Rabaul-New Guinea
The SS USS Tuna was chased by the escort of a Japanese TF NW of Rabaul during the night and escaped.
China
Canton airmen attacked a Chinese Corps NW of the town with 42 Ki-48 and 32 Ki-51.
The 9 Chinese corps in Hengchow launched another delibertae attack against surrounded Japanese troops (104th Div and 20th Eng Rgt). The attack achieved a 14 to 1 ratio and 479 Japanese and 370 Chinese fell.
Only artillery fire was reported in Changsha
Overall a shitty day for the allies, our planes flew into the cap of the KB instead of striking at the Tarakan invasion force, or targeting the bombardment fleet trailing KB that had no cap[:(]
Also south of wuchow the japs got in their shock attack first, because of the land combat routines, sending the chinese flying back to wuchow. Two chinese corps had enough forts to stay put and they merrily launched their own shock attack in return.. 12k men vs 90k [:o]
Burma-Siam
This area is still very quiet. The daily recon flight flew as usual over Moulmein and as usual reported some Hurricanes flying CAP. A Japanese unit coming from Bangkok arrived SW of Rahaeng and patrols reported 5 British units in the town. Along the coast, the area between Tavoy and Moulmein is still a no man’s land.
Malaya
104 heavy bombers and 74 medium bombers bombed 3 Japanese divisions in Singapore. Japanese artillery continued to pound the Allied lines. The base is fully active and ships are reported both docked and undocked in the port.
Borneo
During the night and day, 3 Japanese TF landed troops in Tarakan. The base was bombed during the night by 6 CL and 2 CA, but only 40 casualties were counted after the pounding. Allied submarines were in force in the area and two tried to attack Japanese TFs during the nigt, E of Tarakan and SW of Tawi Tawi, but both were seen and chased away.
In the morning, 5 Zeroes from Kendari flew a sweep over Balikpapan. 3 Hawk 75A were reported flying Cap but were not engaged. 3 Beauforts took off shortly before from Balikpapan to attack ships off Tarakan and met a CAP of 20 Zeroes, that only shot down one. The two remaining missed the CA Takao.
At the same time, most of the Balikpapan aircraft were attacking Kido Butai 120 miles NW of Macassar. 15 Beauforts, 8 Swordfishes and 2 T.IVa escorted by 17 Brewster and 12 CW-21B Demon left Balikpapan. Only one Swordish returned ! The crew reported they met a CAP of 73 Zeroes, that shot down all planes except them and 4 Beauforts. The Swordish attacked the CV Kaga and missed and saw the Beauforts attack the Shokaku. AA destroyed two and the other also missed. Both remaining Beauforts reported by wireless that Zeroes had heavily damaged them and ditched during the return leg. Some Zeroes were damaged in the air battle but none were lost.
3 Beauforts sent to attack BBs 60 miles W of the CVs were more lucky and all returned after an unsuccessfull attack against the Hyuga.
Kido Butai airmen were ordered to rest today, if no Allied ships were reported. Patrols saw a small Allied convoy, probably escaping from Soerabaja, and 38 Zeroes, 78 Vals and 95 Kates hit it in the morning. All Allied ships, 2 DD and 2 AK, were sunk. One Kate was lost to engine failure.
In the afternoon, clouds covered the sea S of Balikpapan. 3 Beauforts were sent to Tarakan, evaded the 19 Zeroes flying LRCAP and missed a PC.
PI
The DD Sagiri, heavily damaged by an Allied submarine some days ago, sank in Davao port.
The Dutch AK Dyumer van Twist sailed from Manila but was sunk off Bataan by 3 Vals and 12 Kates coming from Lingayen. These planes were identified as former Home Defence Units. Several Allied ships were reported yesterday and today in the South China Sea and might be transports sailing from Singapore or Palembang to Manila/Bataan. Or maybe they were just subs.
In the evening, the last crippled AK in Manila port sank after suffering numerous bombings.
And Legaspi was taken by a Japanese SNLF. No Allied troops were in the town and none were signalled in Naga too.
Celebes
The Dutch SS O21 was chased by the escort of a convoy NE of Timor before being able to attack.
Australia
Allied forces continued to retreat towards Alice Spring and Charter Towers. Japanese forces have reached the croosroads NE of Alice Springs but are hundred of miles away of Allied forces so that can't be called a pursuit.
Rabaul-New Guinea
Noemfoor surrendered to Japanese troops in nearby Manokravi (sp ?).
Pacific
Still quiet, the main action today was a Mavis flying a recon over Tarawa. Allied planes are based here and a ship was reported off the island. Acocrding to earlier reports, it was probably a PT TF.
China
47 Ki-48 and 40 Ki-51 bombed two Chinese corps NW of Canton, like they did the last days. This was to support a shock attack by the Japanese 12th Army (3 2/3 Div, 1 Bde, 1 Eng Rgt and 3 ART units) that defeated the Chinese troops facing it (1 HQ and 9 Corps). The assault was at 3 to 1 and cost the Japanese 3820 men (against 1100 Chinese, but retreat casualties probably count in thousands). In a strange occurence (first time I saw that), a Chinese assault attack was launched later in the same hex by 2 Corps, that don’t retreat before. This (late) counter-attack was a disaster. 1720 Chinese fell for nil Japanese loss.
This was a good Japanese success but the situation is not so brillant here. 10 other Chinese units (60 000 men) are just to the NE of the battle area and may reinforce the troops still there (20 000 men). 14 units are reported in Wuchow, mostly beging those repulsed today. And two of the Japanese divisions involved in the today battle are the 21st and 38th, that are under Southern Area Command and are badly lacking elsewhere.
In Changsha, Japanese artillery fire disabled 240 Chinese men.
In Hengchow, the Chinese continued to advance methodically and a deliberate attack at 4 to 1 saw 414 Japanese and 331 Chinese losses.
In the north, in a movement that probably surprised both friends and foes, a Japanese unit was reported today just NE of the town of Lanchow, in the Chinese rear area. Japanese patrols reported only one Chinese unit in the town. This unit had marched on the road N of Yenen. It is thought that Chinese forces are heavily commited on the frontline and so the rear area is almost empty. Japanese recons showed today 123 000 Chinese in Yenen, 130 000 in Homan, 14 000 in Sian and 60 000 in Ichang.
one of these days [:)]
