Chungking, June 20. 'HE effects of the European war on the Sino-Japanese military situation, the present military operations on the Ichang front, the Japanese bombing of Chungking, and the Chinese determination to continue resistance, were among the subjects discussed by Generalissimo Chiang Kai-shek, at the weekly Sun Yat-sen Memorial meeting, held here on June 17.
Commenting on the European situation, the Generalissimo declared "It is impossible, yet, to forecast the final outcome of the European war, but whatever happens, the developments in Europe cannot be other than favourable to Chinese resistance, particularly, the American Naval Expansion embargo on machine tools and essential defence materials, which has determined the future of the Far Eastern situation and assured China's final victory."
"After overwhelming the Chinese forces, under the command of Gen eral Chang 'Tze-chung, and toking advantage of the weakness of the Chinese defences on the west bank of the Han river, the Japanese Jaunched a drive on Tehang," the Generalissimo continued, but the' Chinese forces withdrew into the hills, north of Ichang, 'The Chinese forces, at present surrounding Tehang, are within five hundred metres' of the port, whilst the main ady is within thee or four kilo~ motes.
Blitzkrieg Tact am confident we can annihilate the Japanese forces, on the west] bank of the Han river," asserted the Generalissimo, "We are meeting the Japanese blitzkrieg tactics, with magnetic warfare, drawing' the enemy to his doom, Referring to the Japanese bombing of Chungking, "he paid high tribute to the Chinese Air Force, which engaged the Japanese bombers at odds of often one to five, fand_in many cases fighting con Uinuously from three to six hours in the air, without respite, Two-thirds of every Chinese squadron of fighters were hit by Japanese machine-gun fire, At one time a fighter plane, flown by pilot Chow Chiskal was hit by 09 machine=
"Tt is almost "unbelievable," clared the Generalissimo,' "that though our aircraft suffered some Ansses in May, during the last fort~ wight of this month, not one Chinese! pilot was seriously' injured and all! Chinese aircraft returned sately to their base, "When over 120 Japanese bomb-ort raided Chungking recently, a small Chinese squadron engaged the voiders, bringing down six Japanese bombers." The Generalissimo revealed that the Chinese National] Government office was demolished by the Japanese bombing, No Peace "We held a meeting of the tional Government office today, and even if Japanese bombers levelled the entire city of Chungking to the ground, our National Government office will continue to hold meetings here," he said, Referring to the Japanese pam= pilots dropped over Chungking, the Generalissimo stated it was evident that the Japanese hoped to compel the Chinese to surrender. "There! can be no pence but surrender, the Chinese negotiated for peace now," he declared, "We must con tinue to resist even if we are com= pelled to: withdraw Into one pro-Vince, or one city, where we can breathe the air of freedom.
Text read from the printed page and cleaned; old type leaves the occasional error.