Meantime, the Japanese advance towards Sinyang was slowed down a3 Chinese poured division after division to stem the threat to the strategic! highway and railway junction on the Peiping-Hankow line.
Vigorous resistance was being offered by the Chinese, who left 280 dead behind the fighting in this sector from "September 21 to. 26. The! Japanese seized 16 rifles, 1,800 rounds: of ammunition, hand-grenades and electric torch lights.
Deployed in the first line of defence of Sinyang, stretching as far east 5 Wulltien halfway between Loshan. and the railway, are the Twenty-Eighth, 123rd and 128th Divisions, in addition to large numbers of volunteer militia, according to Japanese military Intelligence, Tiehehlacheng Troops Retreat Shanghai, Sept. 29. Ree star wabaeeroed ines lines troops yest began a wholesale retreat from Tienchiacheng, Chinese fortified arca on the north bank of the Yangize above Wusueh, Domet dispatches from the front stated yesterday.
The abandonment of the strong forts, admitted by the Chinese as forming the "key to Hankow." was begun following the advance of Japanese troops to a point four kilometres of the town of Tienchia~ cheng, which forms the centre of the fortified area, the reports said.
In an all-night engagement, Japanese troops striking at the fortifations from the rear, struggled forward to capture Fenghwangshan—Phoenix Hill—by down.
In the bleak, early morning light, Jepanese Army forces watched Japanese river warcraft and aeroplanes remaining Chinese positions. The [Chinese began retreating towards Kichun soon afterwards.
Another height near Tienchiacheng inthe possession of the Japanese early yesterday was Yangehengshan, the dispatches said, Ten Chinese Divisions More than ten Chinese divisions were believed by Japanese staff Officers to be "concentrated in the Titnehiacheng area, which was claimed by the Chinese to be "vite tually impregnable."
Lakes, hills, and the Yangtze form natural defences, which have been' strongly armed in recent years. The fortification works were augmented since the fall of Nanking, the Chinese_ describing the defence system of the Yangtze narrows comprising the Matouchen, Fuchikou and Tienchiacheng forts as the "They Shall Not Pass" line.
'Meantime, another Japanese column threatening' the northern Hupeh' border from south-eastern: Honan, had advanced by Tuesday to the neighbourhood of Paichaoyuen 22 kilometres west of Shangcheng.
About 500 troops of the Chinese! ath Division were believed to be defending Paichiaoyuen, Domei dispatches stated.
Text read from the printed page and cleaned; old type leaves the occasional error.