Hankow, Jan. 17.
With the arrival yesterday of further Japanese reserves, about 10,000 strong, on the north bank of the Yellow River, it appears as though the preparations of both sides for the great battle expected io take place on the Tientsin-Pukow railway north of Hsuchow are now completed.
Japsnese troops are now crossing the river near Lokow not far from Tsinan and are proceeding in forced marches from there southwards to the front.
Unconfirmed reports state that further Japanese troops from Tsingtao are marching along the railway line to—Tsinan. According to another report Japanese forces of several hundred men who are pushing forward in the direction of Linching, obviously in order to prepare the advance of a larger contingent along the Yuansing river along the eastern part of the Lunghai railway have been surrounded by Chinese troops and annihilated.
Text read from the printed page and cleaned; old type leaves the occasional error.