Sept. 17.
The fighting which is in progress between the Chinese and Japanese forces in the latter's advance on Hankow is not developing as rapidly as was at first anticipated, and while it would be an exaggeration to state that the Japanese had been held up, they are certainly not advancing with that speed to be expected of the numbers employed and the superiority of their equipment in what is probably the largest military action in their" history. During the past week, what is re~ ported as heavy fighting has been proceed~ ing on the three main fronts, in south-east Honan, along the Yangtze' valley from Juichang, and down the Kiukiang Railway in Kiangsu.' The capture of Kushih, on September 7 should have brought about the early collapse of the triangular defensive position of which that city, Shangcheng and Kwangchow were the three corners, The advance along the route Yehkiatsi-Shangcheng has been slow, and while there is afoot a power~ ful movement to squeeze out the Chinese defence from that position, there are indications that the Chinese forces' will still be able to hold out some days at increased expense tu the Japanese. At the present rate of progress it may still be some weeks before the Japanese succeed in cutting the Peiping-Hankow Railway at Sinyang, which is still about seventy miles behind the most advanced Chinese positions in this area, Very much the same remarks must apply to the course of events along the Yangtze. With the fall of Kwangtsi on September 6, it was believed that the shorter road to Hankow would be opened, Kwangtsi being at the head of a highway system connecting with the upriver port, and the flat country between the hills and the river affording some opportunity for the use of mechanized weapons and transport. The country, however, is by no} means easy, much of it being under water' or water-logged, while the fact that the Japanese are unable to advance with the same specd on the south bank has undoubtedly an important effect upon the progress which can be made along the north, Since the fall of Juichang the Japanese have made little progress westward, and the capture of Matowcheng commands the southern end of the boom across the Yangtze to Wusueh on the north bank, The Chinese complain that the loss of the village does not entail any diminution of their command in that area, their fortifications covering the boom being in the hills to the west of Matowcheng. These have not yet been reduced, and, until they are, the Japanese will not be able to deal with the obstacle consisting of sunken junks laden with stone, the first of the three barriers which have been constructed to prevent quick naval advance upon Hankow. South of the Yangtze at this point, the mountains run down to the river, but with little flat country at the disposal of the Japanese, and that under the command of whatever artillery the Chinese have been able in the hills, Indeed on the map this area seems to be the most difficult section
Text read from the printed page and cleaned; old type leaves the occasional error.