Heuchow, Aug. 18.
It is reported that the Goverment forces on the Lung-Hai Railway front captured Lanfeng yesterday as a result of a heavy engagement with the Kuominchun rebels in the vicinity of Lanfeng on the night of the 16th inst.
The Government units pacticipating in the advance along the central route include the 6th, 17th divisions and the Ist training division.
Theh remnant insurgents in their retreat westwards to Kaifeng have destroyed the railway bridge west) of Lanfeng so as to check the Jadvance of our troops.
The Government 2nd division in conjunction with a part of the reserve units under General Chen Tiao-yuan are also stated to have ccenpied Chiachoucheng, north of the Lung-Hai Line, " yesterday. These units are preparing to move westwards and join the impending assault on Kaifeng—Kuo Min, The Northern Version Peking, Aug. 18.
General Yen Hsi-shan has wired Mr. Chu Ao-hsiang, Director of the Department of Foreign Affairs of the Northern Coalition, stating; The withdrawal of our troops from the Tientsin-Pukow Railway, sout lof the Yellow River, was carried out] as a strategic move, in accordance With pre-arranged plans. With the exception of a little loss sustained in the strength of our garrison troops at Tsinan, all othe: certi genre have been safely withirewn to stronger positions, previously prepared."
The headquarters of the "Shantung Provincial Government" hus been withdrawn to Tehchow, on the Tientsin-Pukow Railway, near the Shantung-Chihli border.
Tae local Chinese papers state that the Shansi forces are occupy ing strong entrenchments on the north bank of the Yellow River—
Reuter.
Tsinan a Nevtral Zone Tsinan, Aug. 18.
That fighting in the town of] tsinan itself will be avoided as far las'possible is now assured by the Nanking authorities as the result of representations made by the Consular Body in Tsinai The request to make Tsinan neutral zone has been made by the Consular Body fo both the Nanking authorities and the leaders of the [Northern: coalition following the recent meeting of the Consuls of the four. principal Powers.
Whereas no answer has yet been made from the Northerners, the Nanking authorities teave intimated their willingness to "ébeerve the wishes of the foreign' Comuls and leveld fighting inside this town as} far as possible. "In order to prevent
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