In connection with the Japanese surprise attack on Sungkiang, Chinese reports last night denied that the Japanese had succeeded in retaining their hold on the north bank of the Whangpoo River, stating that they had been driven back to Sungyin, on the south bank, where fighting was in progress.
Regarding Pootung, Chinese stated that there was no intention of giving up the peninsula and that the reported evacuation was incorrect, the major troop movements being merely transfers, the men being sent to re-infareed hard pressed divisions on the other side of the Whangpoo. A great deal of activity was noted past the Western perimeter, where any intention to withdraw was also denied.
Independent reports of the Sungkiang drive stated that the Japanese had captured Yehsientang, south-east (Continued on page 10) ing.
The fate of the capital was sealed when the Japanese broke - through the Chinese defence lines in the Hsinkow Hills; in northern Shansi, and in Niangtse Pass, in the east. The advance of the Japanese from the north was held up for no less than three weeks in the Hsinkow Hills, where some fifteen Chinese divisions, according to Japanese reports, "furnished the most obstinate resistance" experienced by the Japanese in North China.—Reuter.
Text read from the printed page and cleaned; old type leaves the occasional error.