Taiyuanfu Capital Shansi Captured in Drive Push Continues Planes Active Peiping, Nov. 7.
LIMAXING the most severe campaign of the hostilities in North China, Japanese troops have entered Taiyuanfu, the capital of Shansi and for years the headquarters of General Yen Hsi-shan, the "Model Governor."
The first Japanese soldiers to reach the city consisted of a cavalry unit, which seized the north gate, while subsequently infantry forces, advancing from the north, proceeded to encircle the city in face of continuous Chinese resistance.
Simultaneously, Japanese aircraft bombed the city walls.
Fighting is now in progress in Hsiaotenchen, ten miles south of Taiyuanfu, where a Japanese force, advancing from Yutzu, seventeen miles south-east of the capital, in an endeavour to cut off the Chinese retreat, encountered 3,000 Chinese troops.
With the fall of Talyuantu, the Japanese advance towards the Yellow River on all fronts is now expected to be speeded up.
'A Japanese unit pursuing the Chi nese troops from vicinity of Talyuanclaims to have reached Taiku, thirty miles south of the capital, "Another force reports the capture of Talyuanhsien, a town ten miles south-West of Talyuantu, after sharp fght-
The fate of the capital was seated 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 Givisions, according to Japanese reports, "furnished the most obstinate resistance" experienced by the Japanese in North China—Reuter, Anxlety For Britons Peiping. Nov, 7.
Acute anxiety is being felt for the safety, of about twelve British missionaries, who, itis presumed, are still in "Taiyuanfu, which may be bombed and shelled at any moment, 'The city Is now completely encircled by Japenese forces, part of which seized" the North' Gate yesterday morning. A number of" Chinese troops, however, continue to hold out within the city's walls.
Topanese aircraft this morning] atopped 5.000 handbills inside the city demanding its surrender.
Text read from the printed page and cleaned; old type leaves the occasional error.