With Gen. Li Tsung-jen, commander-In-chief of the Chinese forces on the Hsuchow front, assortedly in flight, 40 Chinese divisions consisting 6,600 to 7,000 men each are faced With the alternative of surrendering to the Japanese or to perish a Japanese Army spokesman stated yesterday evening.
"The Chinese forces along the Lung hal, he alleged, were in "full retreat' Large columns of Chinese troops, possessing many vehicles, he said, had been seen moving westward on Meantime, the Japanese ring of fron and men further closed upon China's "Jocular vein"—the Lunghat rallway—with the asserted capture on Sunday of Watzekowchial, 50 kin. southwest on Hsuchow. and of Siehkeiahu, in turn 50 kin. west Meanwhile, the spokesman asserted. another Japanese column had reach¢ Tayingksl In western Anhwei, and was. pushing Chinese troops towards Suhsien on the Tientsin-Pukow way, 50 kin. to the north.
In their attack upon Hotel, Chinese stronghold in central Anhwei, the spokesman claimed, the Japanese had taken 500 prisoners. In retreat he added. the Chinese abandoned 2,000 dead—Domel.
Retreat Threatenéd Their retreat towards Hsuchow, however, is expected to be cut by the! mobile Japanese columns driving westward along the Lunghai Railway.
Japanese operations north-west Hauchow were equally successful, ports from Tsining claimed, While one column driving towards Hsuchow from Tsining occupied Tenghsien, 75 kins. north-west of the key Kiangsu city, another force on Scnday afternoon fought a major! battle within a striking distance of 'The Initer lies 35 kims, south-west of Kinsiang, which is still In Chinese hands, and' 62 kims. north-east. of Kweileh, on the Lunghai Railway, Defeating a force of 2,000 men, the Jepanese unit captured war booty, Which Included thousands of cases of prmimunition, thirty trench mortars, 2,000 trench mortar shells, and 5,000] bags of flour.
The Japanese column which took part.in the three-hour engagement Had 24 hours earlier occupied Tsa0- chow. (Hotseh), south of the Yellow River.
Text read from the printed page and cleaned; old type leaves the occasional error.