Japanese military operations west of Hangchow and west of Hohsien, where the U.S.S. Panay was sunk on December 12 last, are progressing satisfactorily, a spokesman for the Japanese Army said yesterday morning.
In two engagements in the Yuhang sector, directly west of the lake-side city, strong Chinese guerilla units were said to have suffered serious reverses, losing about 420 men killed.
Japanese losses in the two clashes were put by the spokesman at 39.
Defeated in an engagement at Shuanghsichen, a Chinese guerilla unit fled southward, Another force have been pushed out of Tungliankiatao towards Huan, which lies at the foot of a mountain range.
Meanwhile, another Japanese unit, ug westward from Hohsien, pied the important town of Han-shan on April 26, the spokesman announced.
While the officer said he did not now the exact strength of the Japanese column, it was described as a "considerable force."
Hanshan lies about 30 kims. directly west of Hobson and 72 kims, south-east of Hofei (Luchow), an important Chinese military base in Anhwei.
Hohsien was re-occupied by a Japanese Army unit, with the assistance of a naval landing party, on April 24
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