Hankow, Sept. 1. HE Chinese scored a smashing victory west of Juichang in a general offensive yesterday, inflicting 4,000 casualties on the Japanese, according to an urgent telephone message received from the front this morning by the Generalissimo's headquarters.
After repeated failures to penetrate the Chinese positions in the hills seven kilometres west of Juichang, the message said, the Japanese brought up heavy reinforcements for a big push along the south bank of the Yangtze.
The Chinese also rushed reinforcements to the spot and then, before the Japanese could complete their concentration, the Chinese ordered a general offensive.
After a bayonet charge by the Chinese, the message declared, extremely severe fighting took place which ended in the Chinese breaking through the Japanese line.
The Japanese are alleged to have suffered 4,000 casualties, while the Chinese are said to have captured 700 rifles and scores of machine-guns. The Japanese are reported to be retreating towards Juichang.
The Chinese victory is said to be due to the fact that the Chinese troops defending the hills west of Juichang stubbornly held on to their positions despite a terrific attack by the Japanese.
As soon as Chinese reinforcements arrived, a Chinese military commu que asserts, the Chinese launched a counter-attack in which one Japanese detachment commander was killed.
"S.Y. Times" Report The reports of a Chinese victory at Juichang were confirmed by the correspondent of the "New York Times," who is at present on the Juichang front and who telegraphed today "The biggest Chinese victory after Taierchwang was scored here when the Chinese successfully repulsed a Japanese attack or the Chinese positions north-west of Juichang in the nity of Matoucheng and also south-west of Juichang on the Juichang-Yanghsin highway, where a Chinese—counter-offensive inflicted over 3,000 casualties on the Japanese.
"However, the Japanese, who are retreating to the outskirts of Juichang, are bringing up fresh troops for an early new offensive in this sector."
Although reports of the Chinese victory.are causing the greatest excitement Here, the Chinese high command, in accordance with its policy of not being "unduly excited over minor victories and also not being depressed over temporary reverse: is forbidding the issue of extra editions by local newspapers.
It is understood that the Chinese troops commanded by General Kwan Ling-ching, who participated in the battle of Taierchwang, took a major part in yesterday's offensive at Jui-chang.—Reuter.
Text read from the printed page and cleaned; old type leaves the occasional error.
