Shanghai, Apr. 3.
Japanese military aircraft severely bombed Chinese fleeing across the Grand Canal near 'Talerhehwang on April 1, a Japanese military spokesman said last night, Unable to resist the Japanese onslaughts the Chinese lines wavered at several points along, the northern bank of the canal, the spokesman claimed, Japanese' troops were in control of three-fourths of Taierh: chwang on Thursday. Chinese forces holding Linyi, strategic stronghold in southeastern " Shantung. were als retreating towards the Kiangsu border, recording to the spokesman, Naval as well as military nero-planes bombed the fleeing Chinese on Friday, according to. the spokesmen for the services. On the southern Tsinpu_ sector, the Army spokesman said, mopping up operations were carried out in an area between 35 and 38 kilometers north of Ming Kwang and at Kiusen, resulting in virtual encirclement of Chinese troops in the area, Hankow, Apr. 3.
Complete reoccupation by Chinese troops late last night of Talerhehwang and Hanchwang, strategically important towns.on the north bank of the Grand Canal, in South Shantung, was claimed by' General Li Tsung: Jen, Commander-in-Chief of the Chinese "forces on the Tientsin-Pukow Railway, in a message' received this "-niorning' at General Chiang. Ki shek's headquarters by telephone. The two towns, General Li said, were reoccupied after desperate fighting which had *rsted for twelve days and nights" without "interrupt tion, Both sides, he declared, had employed crack' troops, and the ensaigements were marked' by very. fore hand-to-hand fighting, as well the se of mechanised units and ait-ati, Recounting the battle for Talethehwang, General Li Tsung-jen asserted that the Japanese forees ehtered the town from the north-east and succeeded in occupying the northern section. The Chinese, who held two-thirds of the town, tr to dislodge the Japanese with hand grenades and desperate _tayonet barges, but the Japanese succeeded in holding out against every assault "The Chinese then ried. io smoke the Japanese out by setting fie. houses inthe occupied section with Kerorene, but the Japanese stilt held their positions. Finally, however, General El Tsung-jen continued. the apanese withdraw from Toler Shovang late last night Retreat fo Mslangchen According to another message from uchowlu, the Japanese are retreat" Ing in-a northeasterly direction with the evident Intention of joining thelt comrades at Hslangehen, twenty Illes south-west of Lingyl The Chinese troops reported have reoccupied Honchorang are said {o have accomplished this feat after cressing "the Grand Canal. Hnshang ies. atthe function of the Canal and the Tientsin-Pukow Rail: way, and is situated north An_llelal communique issued. the Chinese. military authorities. this "Only a Small number of Japanese troops are at present stationed Yinhsion, on the Lineheng-Talerdchwang Tallway, east of the lenisin-
"The main Body of the Japanese troops at Yihhsion is reported to be Feireating towards Lanling. onthe Taleshehwang: Welhslen highway, in ger "form 8 junction" withthe epancre "troops "relenting rom "The reverses alleged to have been suffered by the Japanese on the 'Tientain-Pukow Ratlway' front have Brought" great oncousagement Chinese circles here. Condgence rowing that' the attempt of the Japanese to capture lsuchowtu will yet further delayed, if not com-
The fighting on the northern Tsinpu front has now developed into a sort of crazy patchwork, with large forees of each side operating behind the front lines of the other side and various" units more or less ut off {rom the vest of their armies, The Chinese claim further" slight advances in the last 24 Nours, include the capture of two further vil-ages. "A communique issued. here Tate last night by Chinese military headquarters says "Lianhsiatien, seven mies sou of, "Tsouhsien," and Chichho, "nine malles north of Tenghsien, were recaptured by "the Chinese" Jesterday "The Chinese troops are attacking Hslangehen, tty mites south-west Lingy!, with the latter ity asthe base, "he Japanese forces at Hsiang chen have been reinforced by: 2.000 men, Severe fighting is going on at "The Chinese troop are furiously counter-attacking at Teierhchwang. "Chinese ying "columns have systematically" cut the Japanese com munications north of Lingyi and are thereby threatening the rear of the Jepanese forces "operating in the ity of Lingyl.
With the Chinese capture Lianhsiatien, the. Japanese troops stationed at Tenghsien and Lincheng are now. isolated, The. Japanese troops at Taierhchvwang, Yiksion. snd Yenchow are fighting as separate units having been eneizcled by. the Chinese force
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