Following the failure of counterattack on Loshan, about 50 kilometres east of Sinyang, Chinese troops began a general retreat westward toward the Peiping-Hankow Railway town which now is the objective of a vigorous Japanese drive. Domei dispatches from the Honan front claimed late on Thursday night.
Chinese troops, aided by planes and tanks, launched counter-attacks in the Loshan area from three directions on September 27 and 28, but all the attempts proved futile, the messages said.
Several Chinese divisions already massed at Sinyang were said to include the First, 28th and 24th of Central troops under Gen. Hu Tsung-nan and some units of Szechuen troops.
According to a message from Shihchiachwang, a Japanese detachment defeated Central troops of the 10th and 88th Divisions of the 14th Army and Yuanku "volunteers" after several days of fighting in the vicinity of Hsipantsun in south-western Shansi. The Japanese unit launched a drive from Chieh-hsien, Chinese losses in the engagement were estimated at 450 dead. Survivors of the clash were said to be retreating toward Yuanku, closely pursued by Japanese columns.
Military observers in Tokyo yesterday attached great importance to the occupation of Tienchiacheng, about 100 miles from Hankow, pointing out that Chinese history shows that the loss of Tienchiacheng "virtually means the loss of Hankow or vice versa.
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