Hankow, Mar. 25.
Taking advantage of a thick fog, which made visibility impossible beyond fifty yards, a Chinese flying column crossed the Wen River and reached Ningyang, west of the Tientsin-Pukow Railway and north of Yenchowfu, it is claimed here. This brings them approximately 100 miles behind the Japanese lines north of the crossing of the railway and the Grand Canal. The column is stated to be advancing to the north-east towards Tawenkou and to the south towards Taian.
Another Chinese flying cólumn crossed Nanyang Lake, west of the railway, and is advancing towards the railway between Tsouhsien and Lianghsintien.
Chinese forces on the Tienin-
The Japanese forces in northern Kiangsu province, the spokesman continued, occupied Jukao on March 20, and were advancing towards Balan, north-west of Jukao.
Japanese troops stationed in the Nanking area, he declared, were reported to be moving into north Kiangsu province to panticipate in a drive there, in order to threaten Hsuchowfu from the south-east, The Chinese, the spokesman said, had crossed the Yellow River on March 23, in north-western Honan province, and had attacked Meng-hsien on the bank of the Yellow River. Liehen, an important city in south-east Shansi, the spokesman concluded, hyd been recaptured by the Chinese Who were now engaging Japanese relief detachments from Changchi and Luchen.—Reuter.
Pukow Railway front, under the command of General Li Tsung-gen, launched a general offensive yesterday morning against the Japanese positions along the railway north of the, Grand Canal.
Japanese Concentrating at Yihhsien A telegram from General Li Tsung-en Commander-in-Chief of ihe Chinese forces on the Tientsin-Pukow Railway front, was received at the headquarters of General Chiang Kai-shek yesterday. It stated that Japanese forces were concentrating at Yibhsien, northeast of Hsuchowfu. As the Chinese troops were launching an attack in the direction of Yihhsien, the Japanese were reported to be setting fire to buildings inside the city walls in preparation for street. fighting.
The Chinese defence on the rail-
Text read from the printed page and cleaned; old type leaves the occasional error.