Hankow, Feb, 26, Two Japanese warships were sunk in the Yangtse this morning by Chinese planes, according to an official announcement by the Chinese Aviation Headquarters, The Chinese planes, it says, achieved this success when they attacked a concentration of Japanese warships 12 miles west of Wuhu, One of the ships alleged to have been sunk is stated to have been a destroyer, and the other a gunboat, The number of Chinese planes which engaged in the raid is not stated. Reuter.
The Japanese, the spokesman concluded, must have been taken completely by surprise, as no Japanese fighting "planes took to the air and no anti-aircraft guns went into action,—Reuter, of the river opposite Menghsien, From their positions on The attempted crossing is expected to be made either at Menghsien or Fengchiu, on the north bank opposite Kaifeng, where thousands of troops are being concentrated.
Meanwhile, the situation on both wings of the northern sector of the Tientsin-Pukow Railway is reported to have again become tense. While on the main front the opposing forces are facing each other at Lianghsiatien, south of Chowhsien, fierce fighting is said to be proceeding on both flanks.
On the left wing two Japanese columns are said 10 have made no headway in their efforts to push westward. One column is driving from Anchu towards Chiahsiang, and the other from Hochangkou towards Chin-hsiang.
In the southern sector of the Tientsin-Pukow Railway, the Chinese are stated to have made another attack on Tingyuai 50 kilometres south-west of Pengpu, but were cor-pelled to retreat after an all-night battle.
Facing very little opposition, a Chinese column operating to the west of the Tientsin-Pukow Railway is rapidly pushing south-westward towards Nanking, according to Chinese reports received here to-day.
Following its capture of Lube, less than 20 miles north-east of Nanking. this column is now said to have reached the north bank of the Yangtze River. Meanwhile, Japanese remnants occupying a village south of Lube are stated to have retreated across the river.—Reuter.
Text read from the printed page and cleaned; old type leaves the occasional error.