Shanghai, Oct. 6.
In a furious night attack, Japanese troops at 1am. yesterday swept into the strategically Important town of Loki on the Yungsul-Siushut highway im northwestern Kiangsi. Loki is $0 kin. west of Tehan and 65 kin. southwest of Juichang. This operation, Domei correspondents at the front explained, was important "in that it turned the left flank of the Chinese troops holding Tehan. Simullaneously, it pierced the Chinese me of defences stretching from the banks of Lake Poyang westward to Japanese troops began moving south from Juichang on September 16 with the Yungsul-Siuchui highway, along which Wuning is situated, as their objective, Barring, their ae vance were strongly-fortified Chinese positions, constructed to take full Advantage of the mountainous terrain, where hills from 200 to 500 metres In hight towered above narrow defiles which provided the only passage for troops.
Line after line of solid Chinese defences shad tobe reduced under serious handicaps. Unable to use motorized transport, the Japanese Army had to rely on human power to move its artillery.
For 20 kin, from Yussuwan to Tawutien. Vilage, this Japanese column proceeded through a narrow gorge. With supply columns delayed by the adverse conditions, the soldiers dug up sweet potatoes and munched om for food.
On September 25, the column emerged from the defile to launch a vigorous drive against Chinese forces retreating to the southwest. By Tues-ay afternoon, Japanese troops were n-possession of heights east of Lopanshan overlooking Lok Allacking the town at night, the Japanese succeeded in entering Loki at 1.15 am. Complete occupation was effected one hour later, Domei reports, stated.
Seven Chinese divisions were concentrated in this area to stem the Sapanese advance.
A town of about 500 houses, Loki assumes importance only because of its location' which commands land trafic from Tehan and Nanchang to Hankow, while water-borne traffic from Tungting and Poyang Lakes is carried on through a network of With the Japanese Forces South of Yangtze indication of the countryside where the Sino-Japanese hostilities south of the Yangtze is furnished Cly these two pictures. canals and rivers centring on the Shiusul River, Tt was with Loki as the centre that a decisive battle for the control of the Wuhan triple cities was fought in 1927 between the advancing National-{sts and the northern troops, It was. recalled.
The "jugular vein of the Hankow defence system was cut by Japanese troops which occupied Loki by break Ing the centre of the Chinese posi ons between Tehan and Yangsi, military observers in Tokyo declared; ast night, Reinforcements Ambushed The Japanese drive on Loki was made so suddenly that Chinese reinforcements arrived on the scene too ate and were ambushed by Japanese detachments, observers stated, A field dispatch from the front stated that Chinese troops were retreating in confusion westward and southeastward, while more than 10,000 Chinese troops were ovectaken by Japanese Army planes on jo highway to Yungsiu and heavily bombed and machine-gunned.
Japanese detachments operating {from Fuchikow, in ce-operation with naval forces, at noon yesterday Jcoptured Maanshan, south of the Yangtze, according to a communique released by the headquarters of the Japanese Expeditionary Force headquarters yesterday afternoon.
Japanese military planes bombed the Loyang airdrome on 'Tuesday jand demolished hangars and military establishments, according to a report ium Peiping' received in Shanghai ast" night.
Japanese forces converging on Hankow must fight not only the! Chinese troops but.epidemies espectjolly malaria, according to a cid Jdispatch relayed from Tokyo last night.
Japanese frst line troops are suf fering from a shortage of medical supplies and aeroplanes have been luseé to drop quinine and other medicines, the Tokyo message slated, Mand-to-Hand Fighting Bitter hand-to-hand fighting is. being waged between Japanese forces and Chinese troops "attempting to stem their westward drive toward the. Peiping-Hankow Railway across southeastern Honan Province, a. Domei dispatch from the front stated late Tuesday night.
In one day's fighting alone the Chinese suffered losses of at least 700 slain, the message claimed, Occupation of Wutal, in northeast jem Shansi on October 2 has deprived the Chinese Eighth Route Army tse of operations in the northern part of that province, according {0 a message from Taiyuai The Japanese advance toward the Honan-Hupeh border was progressing favourably yorterday, recording 10a field dispatch relayed from Tokyo Wednesday evening.
During the fighting in the pas: Hupeh'380 Chinese soldiers were jai fed, the message claimed: The Jay ese captured ten light machine uns, 50° rifles, 10,000 chand grenades 5 100,000 rounds of ammunition, ist anese casualties, were small, the ing, sage asserted.
fu the vicinity of Shawo Japanese units. Which" took Paltsioyuan Tuesday afternoon confined "1he0 advance 15 kin. westward on Wedne! day
west of Palisioyan, has been occumia Fhuanwan, seven ikllomettes sou, by Japanese forces, the message tort
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