Shanghai, Nov. 8.
Manceuvring swiftly to execute a broad pincer movement around retreating Chinese troops, three Japanese detachments yesterday were bearing down on Yochow, approximately 18) kilometres, up-stream from Han-ow, after capturing Sintienchen and Wulipai, according to dispatches from Domei field correspondents.
One detachment gained control of the important highway linking Yochow and Tsungyang on November G by capturing Wullpal, railway town about 40 kilometres north-east of Yochow.
This column was following closely on the heels of Chinese troops which were "completely routed" in the Wilipai area, the dispatches said, Another detachment captured Sin-tien chen, a Chinese stronghold on the Hupeh-Hunan border 20 kilometres south-west of Puchi, at 7 pin. on November 6 after an'all-day battle, The nature of the terrain enabled the Chinese to offer stout resistance around Sintienchen. After the Japanese smashed through the defence Nine the Chinese began a rapid re-rear and were pursued throughout, the night of Nov. 6, Domet correspondents at the front reported. p.m, yesterday, the dispatches and. ammunition manufactured by Taarge quantities of modern arms
Various countries and'purebased by China were abandoned on the Cheng. how pisin, between the Topieh Mountain range and Hankow, accord Ing to the Hankow correspondent ai the "Asahi Shimbun" who. made trip through that area, A large quantity of munitions was left by" the Chinese troops. between Hwayuan onthe" Peiping-Hankow Railway holt' way between. Hankow ud Sinyang, and Anlu, about $6 lo. metres west of Hwayuan, according the correspondent While driving for about 36. kilometres in this area the correspondent founted mare' than 100" arilery Pieces, about 100. motor. loreless, Eluding many large ambulances' and "innumerable" ealsons, From Anlu to Hwayuan the road was itered with eld" guns, calsvons 8nd motor lorries left Behind by the Chinese "troops, the. correspondent said, "More. arms and' ammunition Were found further on.
The correspondent found about halt 1 dozen imported "Iuxuty cars ops arently used by Chinese emeers The Japanese troops were transport: ing the booty to workshops by Tolar lorries or horse drawn vehicles for Chinese "Wavering"
The Japanese were said to have reached positions in the centre of the Chinese forces deployed between Shihyushan and Yangkiachuang. The Chinese line here was said to he "wavering."
Meanwhile another Japanese detachment completed a mopping-up drive around §Kangkow on the Canton-Hankow Railway and cooperated with the other columns pursuing the Chinese falling back toward Yochow.
The Chinese retreated so rapidly that they eft behind large amounts of arms and ammunition and even portable wash basins, a message from Sintienchen stated, All the sectors around Tsungyang were in the hands of Japanese troops by the afternoon of Nov. 6, another message from Wuchang claimed. Six Japanese detachments which marched west from Tungshan' were closing in fon Chinese forces retreating southward, the message sai.
Chinese troops which defended the Tungshan area comprised the 2nd, 43rd, 60th and 92nd Divisions. They abandoned at least 400 dead.
Later reports, seys Domei, revealed {hat the columns are converging on Wangehia, twelve kilometres. south-West of Tsungyang. The dispatches revealed that the columns are being ied by tant units Retreating Chinese forces, the reports added, have not been given time consolidate their defences, Still other dispatches received from the front lines indicated that the! Japanese column driving through the fountainous regions bordering the! Canton-Hankow railway, completely! captured Tungtehehiag, on the bank! of Lake Hwangkai at 2 pin. yesterday.
Another column, the reports added, reached a point northeast of Yang: luss after subduing stubborn Chinese resistance along the railway. Numer-us Chinese pill-box positions, the reports said, were taken by the advane-Ing Japanese.—Dorael,
Text read from the printed page and cleaned; old type leaves the occasional error.