Hankow, Mar. 29.
ITH both armies engaged in a see-saw battle for possession of strategic cities in south Shantung, the Chinese and Japanese high commands are rushing fresh reinforcements to the Tientsin-Pukow Railway front for a decisive engagement, according to reports received here to-day. During the past 24 hours the Japanese are reported to have recovered much lost ground, including the recapture of Tsining and Lincheng. Chinese reinforcements are at present pouring into the area and taking up positions for a large scale offensive.
General Pai Chung-hsi, well-known Kwangsi strategist, is now personally directing operations on the Chinese left wing in west Shantung, in an effort to break through the Japanese right flank. His columns are now said to be advancing to attack Tsining and Tawenkou, At least ten crack Kwangsi divisions are reported to be moving up into front-line positions. The majority of them, according to Chinese sources, distinguished themselves in the Shanghai fighting by holding on grimly to the Tachang-Lotien line despite terrific Japanese artillery, aerial and naval bombardment,
Text read from the printed page and cleaned; old type leaves the occasional error.