Hankow, Aug. 19.
imminent Japanese advance on the Yangtze front is indicated by Chinese reports here today which announce the despatch of strong reinforcements, including several hundred tanks upriver. It is pointed out in Chinese quarters that reinforcements from North China cannot be sent by the Tientsin-Pukow railway owing to the risk of attacks by Chinese irregulars.
Chinese aviators report.large numbers of Japanese ships steaming upstream almost without interruption. Meanwhile, the Chinese positions at the front and in the rear have for several days past been subjected to incessant bombing by enemy aeroplanes.
It is believed here that the Japanese have already concentrated three divisions on either bank of the Yangtze—Trans-
Ocean.
Hankow, Aug. 19.
Chinese military authorities are closely watching the movements of the large concentration of Japanese warships and transports off and below Kvukiong.
Heannot yet be ascertained whe~ ther the Japanese intend to land troops above Kiukiang of launch a drive on Poyang Lake, although the possibility of a drive on the Lake appears to be more likely.
Chinese troops Inunched an attack on August 17 and, penetrating the Japanese lines at Shaho, on the Kiukiang-Nanchang Railway, - oceuple" several hills north of Shaho, while Chinese vanguards even reached the outskirts of Kiukiang, declared a Chinese military communique today.
The Chinese, however, were later forced to withdraw, although they atill held Shaho, the dispatch added.—
Reuter.
Aavanee Checked Shanghai, Aug. 16.
The Japanese are finding their ad~ vance along the Yangtze River check~ ed, and are now attempting to circle around the Chinese left wing on the north bank of the river, states a report which has reached Chinese on Julchang, according to a Chinese military communique today.
Six Japanese warships off Kingkou, above Kiukiang, steamed upriver this morning and heavily shelled Chinese positions guarding the south bank of the river, in the vicinity of Chihu (Red Lake).
Attempts to land troops, however, were repulsed by the Chinese, the communique declared.
The Japanese at Hwangmel, on the north bank of the Yangtze River, another Chinese military dispatch asserted, had Taunched a counter. attack on Chinese positions, but were repulsed, After repairing the bridges and the highway between Chienshan and /raihu, the Japanese at Chienshan were stated to have sent truckloads
Tall Flnforcements in the direction of The Chinese artillery in the hills, however, subjected the Japanese trucks to heavy bombardment, inflict-Ing heavy damage, according to the At the same time, it was reported, small units of Chinese troops contantly barrassed the Japanese forces [with night raids—Reuter,
Text read from the printed page and cleaned; old type leaves the occasional error.