Claims of Successes in Counter-attack Repeated In South; Japanese Spokeman Discounts Reports Chungking, Nov. 17.
'HINESE aircraft are bombing Japanese troops concentrations in the vicinity of Samshui, on the West River, in order to support the present Chinese counter-attack on Canton, according to Chinese reports received here today.
"Meanwhile, Liuchow, an important city in south Kwangsi on the Hunan-Kwangsi highway, was subjected to a severe bombing by Japanese aeroplanes yesterday. Many casualties were reported.
Canton, Nov. 15, Japanese troops today prepared for possible Chinese counter-attack a. they strengthened their positions al Tyinlunglao, halfway between Tsungta and Leungkowhu, north-west of here.
Heavy Chinese' troop concentration: were reported along the line extend Ing from Tsunga west to Fahsien, 50) kilometres north of Canton, east of the Canton-Hankow railway.
"Another Chinese force was reported having advanced to Leungkowhu, east of Tsungfa, about halfway to Lung-moon.
Engagements have not yet taken place along these lines, reports reaching here said.—Domel, Severe Fighting near Canton Chungking, Nov. 16, Severe Aghting is occurring on the outskirts of Canton, according to the Chinese spokesman, who stated this evening that regular troops advancing had Joined the Chinese mobile units the local Self Defence Corps in fan effort to recapture the city.
'The Japanese have retreated from Canton' proper, and are awaiting reinforcements from 40 transports. reported at the mouth of the Pearl River, according to the spokesman, Chinese forces advancing along the Canton-Hankow Railway have reached Siaoping station, eight miles north of Canton, it is claimed. At that point. the Japanese are said to have suffered heavy Josses in severe fighting, The Chinese claim the recapture of Samshui, eight miles north of Blas Boy, thus cutting Japanese communications, The Japanese are reported to have made repeated attacks to recover the place without success, Lungmen, Tunghuo, Tsengehen and Waichow have also fallen into Chinese hands, while the Canton-Kow-Joon Railway has been cut at several points, it is declared.
On the West River a section of Chinese troops have advanced as far Chenteh and reached the east and of the Canton-Samahui Railway, where they are using artillery to attack Canton, it is asserted.—Reuter, ses Claimed kong, Nov. 17. reports said today that Chinese (reaps were closing on Canton and preparing to storm the city after having shattered the outer defences of the Japanese forces.
Japanese forces, the Chinese reports said, retreated toward Canton from various directions and were waiting for reinforcements to defend the city, 'A Chinese column, after mopping up Japanese remnants at Fatshan, ten miles south of Canton, reached She-
Kwaltong, the eastern terminus of the Canton-Samshui railway on. the south bank of Pearl River, Chinese reports asserted Meanwhile, another Chinese column, moving along the Hankow railway line, reached Siuping, seven miles from Canton, Chinese quarters here Because communications from Bias Bay had been disrupted, Japanese troops had repeatedly but' unsuceessfully attempted to recapture Tamshui, which was reported to be in Chinese hands, Chinese reports said.
Local Chinese circles pointed out that proof that the Japanese were rushing reinforcements to Canton was seen in the alleged reports that more than forty Japanese transports were moving toward the "City of Rams.
Text read from the printed page and cleaned; old type leaves the occasional error.