Peiping, Oct. 1.
A major strategical success in North Shansi is claimed to-day in a Japanese military communique, which states that Chinese troops were forced to abandon the famous Yenmen Pass when outflanked by a Japan column from the east. 3 Crossing the inner loop of the Great Wall, the Japanese fought their way io the south over mountainous terrain and last evening occupied the city of Taichow, south-east of Yen-men and 80 miles north of Taiyuanfu, the capital of Shansi, The loss of Yenmen gives the Japanese access to Taiyuanfu across a broad, open valley, which is difficult io defend. Many troops operating in this sector belong to the Eighth Route Army, consisting of former, Communists commanded by Gen, Chu Teh.—Reuter, yuan, the provincial capital, the Goto and Itakura detachments of the expedi! night occupied Taichow, an important trading and military centre in northern Shansi.
The Chinese troops, the Japanese military authorities here announced, staged a desperate counter-attack at 4 pin, but were forced to retreat after an hours combat. Japanese units entered the walled town on the heels of the fleeing Chinese tro) which are: now retreating towerdy Yuanping.
Text read from the printed page and cleaned; old type leaves the occasional error.