In the Yangtze Gorges

China's six-year-old war with Japan this week was at its gravest stage since the retreat from Burma a year ago. North of Changsha the Jap had opened a new, three-pronged drive with 50,000 men. Behind this offensive might be a plan to drive toward Chungking.

The Japanese push was surging westward along the Yangtze River. Immediate objectives seemed to be: 1) clearing the river between Hankow and Ichang; 2) seizing control of the western outlet of the 120-mile stretch of Yangtze gorges through which Chinese supplies are fed to the central front.

Chungking is 280 miles southwest of the Yangtze gorges. If the capital and its hinterland of Szechwan Province is the goal, strategy should call for complementary Jap drives from north and south.

Free China, watching its ill-equipped, outnumbered soldiers in their new, desperate battle, had its eye peeled for such signs.

This file is automatically generated by a robot program, so reader's discretion is required.