Shanghai, Oct. 16.
Japanese' columns in the Tehan sec-for routed 5,000 to 6,000 troops in the vicinity. of Kanmukwan on Saturday and the Chinese were attempting to retreat toward §Yung-siu, according to a communique {issued by the headquarters of the Japanese Expeditionary Foren in Central China last night.
The Chinese were having difficulty in falling back because of attacks from aeroplanes, the statement said.
Clashes in the Titeushan sector were described as being unusually severe. 'The Chinese deployed at Changchukiyuan and vicinity formed the left wing of the main forces. Two rows of trenches and barricades were constructed in' front of their positions extending beyond the Chueh River for a distance of more than one kilometer.
Taoshihtu at the foot of Sichiishan fell before the attacks of a naval Tanding party which pushed westward along the Yangtze and broke through two divisions of Chinese.
Widely separated. Japanese detachments scored further gains Hankow Railway sector yesterday morning by capturing Sichaishan In Hupeh and Chantaikwan, north of Sinyang in Honan, "Domei reports from the front claimed.
Sichaishan, described as the "key Shihweyao' along the Yangtze, taken Saturday morning after a' Japfanese column climbed a steep mountain and engaged the Chinese defendfers in force hand-to-hand fighting.
Occupation of Sichaishan by a.
ppanese naval landing party at 6.30 O'clock Saturday morning was claimed om cial communique issued by the headquarters of the Japanese! 'China Sea' Fleet at 11.80 o'clock.
Chantaikwan, important town the Pinghan line 25 kin. north Sinyang, was taken at about 10 on Saturday by troops of the detachments which previously tured the latter city, according Domei reports from Hon:
Some of the Chinese troops, taking advantage of inclement weather, were attempting to escape from aerial bom-dardments by falling back from their ines, but Japanese detachments were moving quickly to intercept them, Attacks of tank units and moonlight! raids by aeroplanes were lowering the morale of the Chinese forces," the statement further claimed, Thrust on Yangsin Japanese "detachments from south were continuing their thrust toward Yangsin after reaching positions at Chunshanling, six kilometres northwest of Lungchiang, according to Domei report from the latter place Tate last night.
Japanese Army planes carried out three raids in the Sinyang sector on [Thursday despite bad: weather, a communique of the Army Section of the Imperial General Headquprters, stated, The planes bombed Chinese troops and 150 motor ears in the vicinity of Shunhotien, "Hsiaolintien and Chinchiao. The Chinese troops were scattered.
One of the Japanese planes, while bombing at an altitude of 600 metres, was hit by a burst of anti-aircraft fre land its right wing and landing, gear Were damaged, the statement said. The plane continued its bombing and succeeded in returning to its base, the communique concluded.
Mount Toling Captured Japanese troops hammering at the Chinese lines in the Tehan and Tapich Mountain sectors, respectively south and north of the Yangtze, advanced their positions yesterday with the capture of the summit of Mount|* TToling and the defeat of a Chinese force entrenched on Titeushan, Dome! reports from the fronts claimed.
Bhock troops, handicapped by the steepness of the Incline, forced their way fo the summit of fount Toling, Which tes. fust south of the highway leading to Tehan from Aikow.
The victory on Titeushan was scored by troops attacking Changchuklyuan, armed, the second important gateway to the Tapieh range which commands the, Shiancheng-Mecheng Highway.
'Chinese troops on the height, which rises on the southern side of Changchukiyuan, "were routed. after ten! fours' of bitter ghting which. com-/menced on Friday" night.
The Japanese raised the Rising Sun tog over the. peak in a-delezling rain and began a fresh. assault on the next line and a pursuit of the retreating Chinese, the Domei reports stated,
Text read from the printed page and cleaned; old type leaves the occasional error.