Chinese allegations that the floods were caused by damage inflicted upon the Yellow River dykes by Japanese shelling and bombing were described as "preposterous" by a Japanese 'Army spokesman In Shanghai. last 'The breaches, the spokesman charged, were made by the Chinese military, who, he said, "invoked the jald of nature' when their strength failed them in stemming the Japanese. advance."
The flooding of an area, the spokes: man continued, was traditionally a fensive move." While the flooding of the Chengchow area had necessitated a change in the plans. the Japanese army, resultant losses: were "not large." he claimed.
Closure of the breaks ini the Yellow River dykes is believed to be impostible for several months, at Toast not tint the water recedes in the winter.
(On the other hand, many observers are of the opinion that. the present flood may solve China's centuries-old problem of allowing the Yellow River ovhind ils natural course, since. the Present course, is_artifielaily main ined, withthe. siver bed ger than cities along te course.
Ault of the" war and tha slate "of went comparatively deserted os a re-ite slong, the ver are at pre-
aufirs, it is stated, affords "an ex-client chance for the river to find fie Sintural course without. causing terrible death, toll-—Router.
Text read from the printed page and cleaned; old type leaves the occasional error.