Shanghai, Mar. 21.
Capture of Ningpo, south of Hanigchow. Bay by the Japanese forces. was declared to be necessary by the Japanese journal "Shanghai Mainichi" jin an editorial yesterday, contending that its seizure would reduce the strategic Importance of Kinhwa, where the Kuomintang's Provinelai Government of Chekiang Is. now Joeated. The occupation of Ningpo would also add to the. peace and order of the areas south of the Yani zo River, the daily said.
Guerilias, bandits, and - regular army forces, which the Kuomintang claims to total more than 200,000, have been active in areas south of the Yangtze, the paper stated, "Like warming flies, they fee before the. Japanese advance, only to fter back ju the wake of 'a Japanese with. araval," the daily remarked, 'According to reported Kuomintang estimates, six divisions of infantry, cavalry, and artillery troops of tue Central' Army, making up part of this group, are threatening" Hangchow, being deployed in southern regions beginning at the Tsaoeh Piver, running westward to Tunglo, on the Tuchun River which ows to Hangchow, then turning north to the Tungtlenmu Mountains west of Hangchow, the "Mainichi" stated.
Troops Cross River More than 40,000 mobile troops have moved north across the Chientang River to the Soochow-Kashing Railway areas, it Is further claimed, From 16,000 to 17,000 men of Communist mobile troops are scattered {in hsiens east of Changchow on the Shanghai-Nanking Railway, while 50,000 bandits, known as the "red spears", which have sworn allegiance to Gre' Kuomintang command, are operating in areas. bordering' 'Tal Lake, with their activities centring around Kashing, Huchow, Changhing, and Thing, the' Japanese newspaper reported on the basis of what were described as Chinese claims, At least of the #o-called Patriotic Salvation Army are deployed in a sector south of Pooting, the Kuomintang asserts, the dally stated. "Taking the reported estimates with some reserve, it may stil be admitted that about 16,000 Chinese are operat Ing, oF ready to operate, in the ares uth of the Yangtze", the paper added,
Text read from the printed page and cleaned; old type leaves the occasional error.