Tsinan, Apr. 3, Japanese troops occupied Lanling, 27 kilometres east of Yihsien and about 23 kilometres north-east of Taierchwang in southern Shantung, at 230 o'clock in the afternoon of April l it was learned here to-day in reports from the front.
The town was occupied by the same detachment which captured Hsiangcheng, 35 kilometres east of Yihsien, on March 31
Seven divisions of Chinese troops commanded by General Tang En-po and General Shang Tzu-chung have been unable to break through the ring of Japanese forces surrounding them, the reports said. They were said to be locked in the area between Lanling and Taierchwang as a result of a successful encircling movement by Japanese columns operating from easterly, westerly and northern directions.
Acting on orders from General Chiang Kai-shek, the troops under General Tang and General Chang attempted to attack Japanese units from the rear in the Taierchwang area but the operation was frustrated by heavy artillery fire and aerial bombardment from* the Japanese forces.—Domei.
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