Japanese columns in the Tehan sec-for routed 5,000 to 6,000 troops in the vicinity of "Kanmukwan on Saturday and the Chinese were attempting to retreat toward Yung-siu, according to a communique issued by the headquarters of the Japanese Expeditionary Force in Central China last night.
The Chinese were having difficulty in falling back because of attacks from aeroplanes, the statement said.
Clashes in the Titeushan "sector were described as being unusually severe. The Chinese deployed at Changchukiyuan and vicinity formed the left wing of the main forces. Two rows of trenches and barricades were constructed in front of their positions extending beyond the Chueh River for a distance of more than one kilometer.
Taoshihfu at the foot of Sichaishan fell before the attacks of a naval landing party which pushed westward along the Yangtze and broke through two divisions of Chinese.
Widely separated Japanese detachments scored further gains along the Yangtze River and in the Peiping-Hankow Railway sector yesterday morning by capturing Sichaishan in Hupeh and Chantaikwan, north of Sinyang in Honan, Domei reports from the front claimed.
Sichaighan, described as the "key to Shihhweyao" along the Yangtze, was taken Saturday morning after a Japanese column climbed a Steep mountain and engaged the Chinese defenders in fierce hand-to-hand fighting.
Occupation of Sichaishan by a Japanese naval landing party at 8.30 o'clock Saturday morning was claimed in an official communique issued by the headquarters of the Japanese China Sea Fleet at 11.30 o'clock.
Whether the Chinese planes had inflicted any damage on the Japanese war vessels or transports, however, could not be ascertained.
Fierce fighting preceded the fall of Weichow, where it had been anticipated that the first major Chinese stand would be made, and both sides were stated to have lost heavily, while ihe town itself was a mere heap of ruins, virtually unchanged and, as the Ja-In Canton, the situation oon panese threat to bomb the city at dawn today failed to materialize, a spirit of orderliness prevailed, although thousands of refugees were continually on the move in an endeavour to leave the city by every available means, k At the same time, it was indicated that further landings were being made by the Japanese throughout Bias Bay.
it was even rumoured, in unconfirmed Chinese reports, that the Japanese were attempting a landing at Bocca Tigris, although this was discounted as premature in responsible quarters here.
Text read from the printed page and cleaned; old type leaves the occasional error.