Japanese troops pushing westward along the southern bank of the Yang:
River yesterday were within four kilometres of Tienkiachen, described by the Chinese as the "key to Hankow." According to an official Japanese communique, Fuehikou, four kilo~ metres south of the strategic position commanding the central part of the ingize "bottle neck." war occupies by Japanese forees at noon on Satur day, The seizure of the town was the outcome of several days of sanguine fighting in an almost ceaseless.
in-among the hills that form natural border between Kiangsi_ and Hupeh provinces. Japanese emeers and men, drenched to the skin, marched into the captured town, Various reports from the fronts yesterday claimed that Japanese operations in a semi-circular advance toward Hankow were making steady progress. Strong Chinese positions west of Juichang in northern Kiangst have fallen into Japanese hands one aiter another and occupation Yongsin was expected at any tne, the dispatches. said.
On the front north of the Yangtze, mese forces driving—westward from Shanycheng and Kivangehow were forcing the Chinese troops back toward Sintang, while along the Yellow River the western section of the Lunghai Railway was being subjec~ fed to increased pressure daily, the ports stated. A message from Shihchiachwang last night' claimed that Japanese detachments—which launched a drive from the Yuncheng in southwestern Shansi inflicted ing" losses on Chinese troops which had been strongly the -vieinity of Hengling kwan. The Chinese troops were part of the units which had resisted the Japanese near Yuanku, where it was expected that a crossing of the river would be effected at any time, Directors for Postal Service Peipinige Sept. 21 For the purpose of "Fationaliziny' the postal service. the Head Post Anice hae appointed 23 Japanese
Text read from the printed page and cleaned; old type leaves the occasional error.