According to a foreign military expert who has just returned to the: Capital from orth Honan, the suc-ess of the Government campaign fon the Lung-Hal front will very. much depend on the outcome of: the Government's plan to break' through the right wing of the rebel forces between Kihsien and Kaifeng and to blow up the Yellow River: bridge.
'The Government's original plan was to capture Lanfeng and then to' push straight on along the Lung-Hai Railway to Chengchow, Lanfeng is at present defended by 'Shansi troops, and strong fortified positions have been constructed by' the rebels at dominating points around Lanfeng fortified with heavy artillery. The National Government troops have, therefore, four dificult to break through the enemy lines at that point.
'A now plan has been drawn up by General Chiang Kal-shek with the object of attacking the enemy lines south of Lanfeng. After capturing Kihsien and Kaifeng, the Government forces hope to cutoff the yetréat of the Shansi troops at Lanfeng and to attack their positions from the rear. Kaifeng is also defended by Shansi troops. The Kuominchun under Marshal Feng Vu-hsian are being massed at Chengchow.
The First Division under Gene: Liu Shih started to strike at right wing of the rebel lines about four days ago. The whole division was thrown in and the battle was most severe there being many casualties including a divisional commander, who was wounded. 'There are' about, fifteen Govern-[ment divisions on the Long-Hai front and four divisions defending Shantung. The rebel troops on the Lung-Hai front outnumber the Government forces.
The Government aeroplanes are daily bombing.the Yellow River Bridge. If they are successful in damaging it supplies from Yen Hsi-shan cannot be transported to the! out in Honan with such speed and in such large quantities as can be done at present by using the Peking-Hankow Railway while the line of retreat of the Shansi forces to the North would be cut, It is stated that the Shansi troops are making elaborate preparations to guard the bridge from air-raids. As many as aeroplanes and numerous anti-aircraft guns are being rushed! to the threatened point to fight off raiders.
The Model Division, No: 1, played 'a prominent part in the capture of Kueiteh. The engineering corps of the famous division scaled the walls of Kueiteh but suffered many casualties. Two companies went the walls and none returned. The military hospitals are crowded with wounded soldiers.. The Model Division, No. 1, is now being withdrawn from the front lines for yest. The Model Division, No. 2, under General Chang Chi-chung, are. being rushed from here to the Lung: Hai front to reinforce the Government forces there—Rexter.
Text read from the printed page and cleaned; old type leaves the occasional error.