Street Fighting in Shantung Capital Follows Spectacular Advance; Japanese Retreat 'FREET fighting is going on in Hankow, Apr. 9. Tsinan, former capital of" Shantung, after a sensational descent on the city by Chinese troops, who entered after storming the south, east and west gates this morning, according to an official dispatch' received here this evening. The report, which was received with jubilation in Hankow, said that the fall of the city to the Chinese was expected niomentarily.
An earlier dispatch, received from Hsuchowfu from General Li Tsung-jen, Commander-\-Chief of the Chinese forces on the Tientsin-Pukow Railway, sai that the Chinese forces had reached the outskirts of Tsinan, beyond the south, east and west gates, The Chinese forces engaged in the attempt to recapture Tsinan belong to General Sun Tung-hsuan and Tsao Fu-l in, formerly subordinates of General Han Fu-chu, the late Governor of Shantung, who was executed some months ago for dereliction of duty.
Two weeks ago, these troops are stated to have crossed the Grand Ten_miles further south General Canal and to have out the Tientsin-'Tang En-po's'troops, following closely Pukow Railway in over 2°) places on the heels of the Japanese retreat between Taian and T. jen in ing from Taierchwang, are claimed to order to prevent Japanese zeinforcehave reached the eastern outskirts of ments and supplies from Tsinanfu Yihsien. "Fighting is now said to be reaching tha Japanese fees: in the going on in the villages of Mashan, Taierchwang ares.
Chiulishan and Chilition, "Other de-Part of these Chinese tx moved tachments of the Chinese armies southward from Chickho and advancing north from. Taierchwang Liannsiaticn to attack th: rear of the fare stated to have occupied the hills Japanese forces in the vicinity "of on the southwestern and northeastern Tsoochwang and Yihhsien, while the remainder moved northward beyond Taian in the direction of Tsinanfu, Some of the troops erossed the railway and approached the south and ast city gates of Tsinan, Vanguards of the Chinese forces outskirts of Yihsien, The Chinese forces are advancing cautiously in this area, erecting strong defences as they go in pre-aration for a Japanese counteroffensive,
Text read from the printed page and cleaned; old type leaves the occasional error.