"The Japanese forces are still remote from the Lunghai Railway, both in distance and strength, and' have not reached the railway at any poi either east or west of Heuchowtn declared the. Chinese military spoke man this afternoon.
"Even though the Japanese have succeeded ju cutting the Lunghai Railway," the spokesman added, "the Chinese forees in the Hsuchowfu area will remain there. They will not withdraw to the west, but will continue to fight as the Chinese troops did in Shansi after the Japarece hud occupied the Tungpu Railway. Reuter.
Chinese Said Stilt Confident Hankow, May 16.
The Chinese troops have not, lost their confidence in ultimate victory, Chinese reports assert which on the other side admit that the Japanese have gained considerable" terrain north and south of the Lunghai Kail way as also in western Shanting and]
The stretch of the Lunghai railway between Kaifeng and Hsuchow was subjected to heavy Japanese aerial bombardment yesterday, the majority of bombs being dropped on the prin-Cipal stations. Details as to the effldency of the bombardment have not yet been received. The railway track was immediately repaired, having suffered only slight damage, and the transport of troops could "be continued, It is asserted.
"The Chinese positions in the Hsuchow sector are still being held by Chinese divisions, and the Chinese higher command has no intention surrendering the Hsuchow sector but merely Heuchow itself if a strategic move makes this necessary, it is stated.
Chinese military circles declare that there are very strong units of Chinese troops and large stores of war material In the Hsuchow sector Japanese Vanguard Close To Hsuchow Shanghai, May 16.
Japanese troops were elgh~ teen kin. southwest of Hsuchow tonight after capturing Siaohsien in a street battle and pushing six kin. beyond it to the summit of a low mountain range a despatch from Japanese field headquarters claimed.
The mountain position was taken at 6 o'clock tonight after the strong Japanese vanguard had overcome stiff resistance from Chinese troops both out side and within the walls of Siaohsien, termed the "key to Hsuchow is 24 kin, southwest of the objective of the present Japanese "big push." It is located on the Yungcheng-Hsuchow highway.
Guided by the Army's aerial eyes, vanguards of two columns of Japanese infantry from the north and south advanced rapidly toward a meeting on the Lunghai Railway late this afternoon, Returning to their base after fon observation flight over the lines. Cants. Kiyoshise Kugimiya and Nihachi Konishi, pilots of scouting lanes, reported that the two bodies of troops were three to four kin. apart near the railway shortly before 4 ofctock.—Domal. which, it is stated, will be defended, by the Chinese to' the Inst man, In western Shantung the Japanese captured Hotse near the boundary between Shantung and Hopel provine and are now marching towards Teao- It hsien, 50 kin. north of Kweiteh, West of the Tsinou Railway and south of Tsinine Aahting for the pos session of Chinhsiang and Yuetal ix still proceeding. Both towns are said to be held by the Chinese troops in saite of having been bombarded by the Japanese yesterday, It is declare.
An attempt made by 2.000 Jananese to capture the town of Mamochih and the Lunghat Railway station of Tangshan was frustrated by the Chinese, it is claimed here.
Chinese military circles deny the' capture of Hotel but admit that the town has been surrounded by 3.000
Japanese and is being shelled—Trans-Ocean.
Text read from the printed page and cleaned; old type leaves the occasional error.