Culminating operations launched 13 days ago, Japanese troops at 9 o'clock: yesterday morning made their entry Into Tienehiacheng, 4 communique issued noon yesterday by the Japanese Expeditionary Force to Central China announced.
'The retreat of Chinese troops, the announcement claimed, had been cut toft by the occupation,' earlier in. the day, of fortideations to the north of the' town, Flanked by the Huangnl and Makow lakes in the rear, this strongly forti-fled area commanding the Yangtze gorges above Wusueh, eft only one route for any investing army to follow, the communique suid, Astride this route, were three elaborate defence lines, one at Sungshankou, the second at Luetueshan—Camel Hill—, and the third at Shassunao. The lasi Doasted of well built barbed wire en: tanglements, the announcement stated Three Lines Taken Advance Slowed Up The Arst line was taken on Septem-'Tokyo, Sept. 2 ber 16, the second on September 10 Heavy rains are slowing up. the Jand the third on September 20 Japanese advance across Honan prov Chinese reinforcements rushed ince towards Sinyang on the Pelpingthe area then unloosened several vio-Hankow Ralway, Litet-cen, Selhiso lent counter-attacks, while the troops aga Minister of Wary "was. re-defending the forts put up stubborn ported Having fold his Cabinet col-resistance, the communique asserted, Feagues yesterday.
'A. general attack was launched Chinese troops, under Gen, Sun against the Chinese reinforcements in Lienchung defending this sector, he the vicinity of Sungshankou from Was stated to have. declared, Son. [September 21 to 23, when serious Tnined a large percentage of raw te. losses were inflicted upon five Chinese Sruits, hastily susembled to bring up Central Army divisions. the strength of the depleted Chinese On September 28, an attack was divisions concentrated there. hes launched against the forts themselves, he was reported to have said, had By the following day the first line of umeried! strength of om 800; defence had been reduced, while on 1000 men, or approximately one-sixth September 28, Yupingshan, the high-the average normal strength of 9 fest peak of the area, was occupied, Chinese division. according to the communique, Chinese defences at Tienchiacben, on the north bank of the angus, sinyang Heavily Bombed Lleut-Gen- Hagaki was said to have Kikungshan, Near Sinyang, Sept. 2 continued, were strong." Several Eh.
'A. merciless bombardment was car-hose counterattacks hed bean te ried out by Japanese aircraft yester-ported from that sector, but the de day on important points on. the Fenders. were now facing complete Peiping-Hankow Railway, including demoralization "because of steady Sinyang, the objective of the present Japanese onsauehs, the War Minister Japanese drive in southern Honan, wae reported to live gated and Kwangshul, where strong Chinese On" the southern' Yangtes front, defences have been erect: Japanese and. Chinese troops wers Shortly after an express train leit acting each other near Yangpin from for Hankow, the air raid alarm was 4 distance, of about ye hilt sounded at Sinyang, and for one hour walla no developments had occurred subsequently there we lane atording the We Sen War aster, sions whilst dap bombs in relays on, Sinyang and Kwangshul, further south.
Fighting Rages Round Forts The detonations came in quick sue-Hankow, Sept. 20.
en lenchiacheng this morning, Devote Japanese came io have 'A train Jeaving the bomb-scarred station at Sinyang after the raid was the Chinese military. authentic the most crowded ever witnessed state that desperate fighting is still this part of the world. Soldiers and Being on in the south-eastern section refugees were packed tight on the of the town, following the landing of roots as well as inside the cosches, 'Japanese troops above Wusueh, under Reuter's correspondent managed to cover of a heavy naval and' aerial squeeze inside the guards' van and bombardment, travelled to Kikungshan, a picturesque A detachment of the troops which mountain resort 30 mites south of landed above Wusueh is stated to Sinyang, which has been very peace-have launched a vigorous attack on ful ever since the war began. Four the Chinese fort, while other detach-Britons and two Amerfeans are the ments are said' to have landed at only foreigners remaining In this one-Pungtan, opposite Fuchikou. time popular holiday contre, The Chinese military authorities Hwaoyuan station, on the Fallway 55 admit that the situation at Tienchiamiles north of Hankow, was also badly cheng is critical, but add that the bombed yesterday by Japanese planes, Chinese defenders are still holding on which damaged the track and brought to the famous fort. dowa telegraph and telephone tines In view of the determined attempt of the Japanese forces to break Tienchlacheng Fall Confirmed through the Chinese defences in the Hankow, Sept. 20. vicinity of Tienchiacheng, in order to 'The fall of Tienchlacheng, strategic jonable Japanese warships to advance fort on the north bank of the Yangtze lup-river towards Hankow, the Chinese River, below Hankow, has been authorities have informed foreign'
Text read from the printed page and cleaned; old type leaves the occasional error.