Hankow, Sept. 11.
With the Japsnee drive towards Hankow thrusting forward from three directions, the north, the south and the east, Chinese observers here are of the opinion that the decisive battle for Hankow will take piece on the north bank of the Yangtze. These observers believe that the Chinese positions on the south bank. west of Juichang will withstand assults by the Japanese forces for a long period, since there, they declare, the Japanese must fight their way inch by inch through hilly terrain.
The other method of approach to Hankow, straight up the Yangtze, is also being rendered extremely dim-cult, these observers declare, They claim that the strong Chinese forti-feat ions at Wuhsueh, a short distance above Kiukiang, and Matoucheng, Ihave halted the advance of the Japanese warships attempting to force their way up to Hankow.
On the north bank, from which the greatest threat to Hankow is now considered to come, Chinese reports state that the Japanese are making little progress in the Kwangtsi area. The Chinese forces in the Tapei Mountains, north of the Huangmei to
Text read from the printed page and cleaned; old type leaves the occasional error.