Strong Japanese columns pouring into Hunan province straddled the Canton-Hankow Railway yesterd: gained possession of Yunglowtung and Tanglowkang, key points commanding the line, and scattered retreating Chinese troops in a rapid thrust toward Yochow.
Tanglowkang, six kilometres from the railway, fell to the Japanese at 930 o'clock on Wednesday morning, dispatches from Domei correspondents at the front claimed. A mechanized detachment battered its way into the town after an all-night battle.
The Chinese defences at Yunglowtung, about 35 kilometres south-west of Puchi, collapsed before an assault of another Japanese vanguard unit on Tuesday.
Chinese troops deployed along the railway were caught between two Japanese detachments advancing from the north and south, One column launched an attack on Yunglowtung after pushing along the bank of Hwangkai Lake through hillj^ territory. The Chinese fought desperately for a time before the Japanese succeeded in piercing their lines: Heavy losses were said to have been suffered by the Chinese defending this area.
Pillboxes, barbed wire entanglements and covered trenches were constructed both north and south of the railway by Chinese troops which had retreated from the Wuhan cities.
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