Shanghai, Sept. 16, A Japanese detachment leading the @rive against Kwangchow in southeastern Honan captured Sanpingsst, twelve kilometres east of Kwangchow, after severe fighting yesterday, according to a Domei dispatch from the front last night, Sanpingssu was described as the: most important Chinese defence point on the road to Kwangchow and its capture put the Japanese in an advantageous position for an immediate massed assault on the main objective, military observers stid, In a wide nut-cracker movement] Jaimed at Shangcheng, southern exftremity of the Chinese defence triangle in south-eastern Honan province, two Japanese columns were converging yesterday on the strateglcally important walled city along the northern edge of the Tapich moun-, tain range, Domei dispatches from the front indicated, One Japanese wing, the reports stated, was 15 kilometres north-east Jot Shangcheng, while another was 25 kilometres to the south-east.
The northern column, in possession Jot Shangshihkiao, was engaged in shelling Chinese positions at Nan~ seuchu four kilometres to the south, Jwhere trenches have been dug along] the banks of the Chu River.
Threat to Retreat To the south, another column was} Jnearing Sushitshan, threatening to fent off the retreat' of the Chinese troops deployed between Fangkis Jand Shangcheng. According to observation, about 600 Chinese troops Were retreating across hills towards HTengkiatsi, about eight kilometres least of Shangcheng, from various positions further east, the reports stated.
Meantime, on the southern bank of} the Yangtze, Japanese troops. were [closing in upon Aikow, a pivotal point fin the Chinese defence of Tehan, In a night attack, Japanese troops! seized Sankisstran, three kilometres north of Alkow, it 1220 o'clock on!
jursday morning, after putting to Aight about 5,000 Chinese troops, reports from Kiukiang stated.
In Shansi, Japanese troops seized JChuntu, historic Yellow River cross Ing point into Shensi at 10 o'clock on Tuesday moring, belated reports from Shihchischwang said. The Chinese retreated abandoning 300 dead.
Japanese Push On Japanese flying columns were pushing westward in Honan yesterday in pursuit of Chinese troops. retreating from Fangkiatsi, which was complete-occupied on Wednesday after severe fghling, according to a Domei dispatch from the front on Wednesday night, Chinese troops were falling back from Fangkiatsi in south-eastern Honan toward Kwokiatsi after damaging the highway in an effort to slow' up the Japanese. pursuit, Other Japanese units operating on the left "wing were advancing. on Hsiwan after completing a mopping-drive against Chinese. stragglers in the area west of the 800-metre hill ind near Fuchinshan and Hwayenshan.
Complete occupation of Fangkiats! climaxed a drive of several Japanese] detachments against Chinese positions defending Shangcheng in the form of 8 triangle linking Changpailing, Fangkiatst and Sushanshih, A. concerted rive was launched at midnight on Tuesday and at 8 o'clock on Wednes-{day morning the Japanese troops were {in complete possession of the town Jatter several hours of bloody fighting.
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