Peking, May 28.
The military headquarters of the Northern allies claims that such masses of prisoners have arrived at Chengchow, the junction of the Peking-Hankow and the Lung-Railways, that they cannot be commodated. For this reason, it is stated, orders have been given to form concentration camps at Hsin-chien and Changteh, "A low estimate," according to the military headquarters of the Northerners, "is that. more than 550,000 men have surrendered."
It is also claimed that the Nanking forces are in full retreat on the Peking-Hankow Railway.
The Chinese papers state that the Shansi forces have closed the Yellow River north of Tsinan and are approaching the Shantung capital.
Referring to the fighting at Lanfeng on May 22 and 23 it is stated here that the Nanking army attacked heavily in the first place but that the Northerners then threw in large numbers of their best troops. and repulsed these attacks.
On May 24, it is reported, the Northerners counter-attacked with many fresh divisions while General Shik Vu-san, from Western Shantung, attacked the Nanking troops on the flank and in the rear.
It is stated that the Nanking forces sustained a considerable reverse and were driven back at least ten miles along the Lunghai Railway.
There is a report from Tsinanfu that fighting occurred on the Tientsin-Pukow line one mile north of the Yellow River which appears to confirm the statements made by the Chinese papers that Shansi forces fare approaching the Shantung capital.
Tt is also stated that General Chang Fa-kuei in command of the Tronsides has entered Kiyang, in South Hunan, and is advancing towards Paoking (Hunan).
(Canton aviators reported yesterday that General Chang Fa-kuei had reached Kiyang.)—Reuter.
Text read from the printed page and cleaned; old type leaves the occasional error.