Chinese troops distributed in areas north and south of the Yangtze Rives Jand around Wuhan number about 800,000 in 106 divisions, according information reaching Tokyo yesterday.
Forty divisions comprising. aboli }300,000 men were said to be In the Jareas around Kwangchow and Shang [cheng north of the Yangtze in Hong), under the command of Gen. Pal JChung-hsi, Troops under Gen. Chen Chen were detailed to the Julchang. Tehan sector south of the river, their number being estimated at 400,000 in [50 divisions.
The Wuhan area was said to con. tain about 100,000 troops in ig Chinese casualties in the mountain. lous region west of Yebkiatsi, border town' between Anhwei and' Honan provinees, were estimated to exceed 15,000, including 4,630 dead, according to a field dispatch ast night. Chinese prisoners taken in this area numbered 101, the message stated, Japanese booty comprised 49) rifles, 96 heavy machine guns, two howitzers, 490° hand grenades' snd 12000 rounds of ammunition, Fighting on Tehan Highway [Singtze-Tehan highway.
Following the fall of Tungkuling and Sikuling, the Chinese forces moved to a semi: circular line running west of these hills and extending from Chilungshan through Hualungshan to Liuhingshan, jeccording to Chinese reports, 'Japanese vanguards are attacking the Chinese front line' positions at weitsungsze, while Japanese alreratt fare reconnoitring over Yalkoy, which is about four miles behind the Chinese front line positions, In the meantime, Chinese dispatches say, the Japanese are massing troops fat Mahwelling on the railway in pre-aration for a push southward along ithe line, in the event that they suc: Jceed in breaking through the Chinese Fight wing on the road to Singtze, No significance is given to the fall Matouchen by Chinese military authorities, who, say that the village itself in the foothills is of no strategic importance, They point out that the [Chinese fortifications are located in the hills west of Matouchen, Japan: Jose warships and aeroplanes continue to bombard the forte thre and also Jat Wusueh across the Yangtze River, A significant change in the tactics of the Japanese forces is observed in dispatches reaching here from the front.
Hitherto the Japanese have retrained from attacking strongly forti-fled Chinese positions, it 1s claimed, In order to avoid losses.
Recently, however, in the Aghting at Sulchang and at' Singtze on the south bank of the Yangtze the Japanese stormed Chinese defences inthe hills, apparently determined to gain territory at any cost, This was also noticed during the operations at Kwangtsl and Shanchen on the north bank of the River.
Its opined that the reason for this ctiange in tactics is due to Japan's eagerness to capture Hankow as early as possible, It is understood that the Japanese are predicting the fall of Hankow before October 10, when they expect to establish an amalgamated govern: ment over all China, However, well-informed observers here are confident of the ability of the Chinese to hold Hankow at least for' two more months and possibly
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