Hankow, May 8.
In the eir and on land, Japanese forces in northern Hupeh today launched a general offensive aimed at "annihilating" the main Chinese force defending the Fifth War Zone, a communique issued by the Japanese Expeditionary Force to Central China at 11 o'clock this morning revealed.
Japanese land forces deployed along a 100-kilometre front extending from Sinyang on the Peiping-Hankow Railway westward to Anlu, on the Han River, began a concerted advance early today, according to the announcement. Anlu is also known as Chunghsiang.
Preparations for the offensive, the communique continued, were completed last night after various Chinese salients had been reduced by a concerted action of the air force and land troops in the last few days.
The Japanese front lines early today ran through Chehoshih, 10 kilometres south-east of Suihsien, pivotal point in the Chinese defence scheme.
"High spirits prevail among the officers and-men in spite of the heat," the announcement declared—Domei,
Text read from the printed page and cleaned; old type leaves the occasional error.