Wuchang, Oct. 29.
Pressing southward on the heels of retreating Chinese, a Japanese column occupied the Kinkowehen fort at 730 o'clock this morning, dispatches from the front disclosed. Kinkowehen is a strong Chinese po tion 25 kilometres south-west of Wuchang on the eastern bank of the, Yangtze, Eight Chinese divisions which de fended Wuchang left 2,000 dead when they retreated from the city, according to a report from a Japanese feld headquarters. Five hundred prison ers were taken.
Booty included eight heavy guns, your mountain guns, 12 anti-aircraft guns, 27 machine' guns, eight freight cars, four locomotives, 30 wagons and 200 mines.—Domel.
Terminating a severe one-hour engagement in a driving rainstorm, three Japanese columns attacking from two directions, stormed and took the strong Chinese position on Yihfeng-shan, near Tehan,—shortly after four o'clock on Friday after noon, Domei reports from the front reaching here yesterday revealed.
The onslaught on Yihfeng-shan, which formed one of the outposts for the defence of Tehan, was begun on Thursday when Japanese columns started driving on the position from east and west.
At 320 o'clock on Friday afternoon, the reports from the—front said, the Japanese forces, drenched to the skin and smeared with mud, stormed the treacherous slopes and after a hand-to-hand—engagement, took the position an hour later. time thus far to reorganize their forces for a major engagement in this are Japanese infantry, however, encountered barbed wire and pillbox positions which appeared to have been prepared months ago for the purpose of checking a southward drive, 'The Japanese columns speed-their pursuit during the. past three days in an effort to deal a rushing blow to the Chinese' before they have had an opportunity to complete their retreat and form new positions.
'A Japanese detachment—which. launched a frontal assault on the shifting Chinese lines found several units equipped with tanks. Many Chinese were mowed down when caught between a cross-fire.
Chinese troops which took up posi tions in a wooded region near Heshengchiao battled each other for a time when trees and bushes prevented them from distinguishing felond from foe, the reports said. Many Chinese were said to have been killed or wounded by the fire from their comrades.
Tanks, Armoured Cars Abandoned A Chinese unit which possessed armoured cars, tanks and artillery' lay in ambush near Hoshengchiao in attempt to trap a Japanese column. The attempt failed, however, and the Chinese were routed. They abandoned their tanks and armoured cars in their flight.
Two Japanese detachments which united at Shanpo, about seven kilometres north of Hoshengchino, were advancing close on the flanks of the Chinese, Domel_ reports from Sungtow, meanwhile, Indicated that Japanese forces are' rapidly clearing. out the areas to the south of Mache According to front-line dispatel Japanese columns which took Tuchiaho on October 2, routed a Chinese force of 2,000 in the mountains and after a drive across the Macheng plains, occupied Chiting, approxi. Mately 44 kilometres south-west of 'Macheng at midnight on Wednesday. Japanese forces advancing from Sungfow, the reports said, took the Sungfow' aerodrome about ten Kdlometres west of the city and Pushed on further westward.
Palkow Taken Another Japanese column, according to the reports, captured Pailow, 20 kilometres east of Sungfow after causing heavy losses on a body of about 5,000 Chinese who were strive ing tomake their escape, Paikow fell at three o'clock on Friday after-
Scenes of carnage and desolation rected Domei correspondents. who Visited the districts west of the rally way. Woodland sloping down Swamps and lakes was strewn with bodies of Chinese soldiers, tenks, mountain guns, trench mortars, machine guns and piles of ammuni tion, "Numerous land. mines" were found.
"Autumn rains fell intermittently jon the wreckage of battle -and listening sections of rail blasted from ho Canton-Hankow line by sit Warships Drive tu Pursuit Shanghai, Oct. 31.
Swiflly following up lis, victories achieved in the Wuhan sector © part of the Japanese naval flotilla on' the Yangtze te driving upstream: in. pure suit of the fleeing' Chinese, headquar-{ers spokesman' of the Japanese China Beas Fleet stated inven official communique. yesterday. noon.
Stilt other reports stated that Japanese units which broke through the Chinese lines at Sanchiakow, at the base of the Tapieéh mountain range, pushed onto the Macheng plain at four o'clock on Thursday afternoon and captured Fuhsingtsi, 40 Idlometres southwest of Sanchiakow.
Previous to the capture of the town, the reports said, the Japanese inflicted heavy casualties on Chinese forces during a sanguinary 24-hour battle on the Wenchia River. Four thousand Chinese were reported to have perished in the conflict.
The main Chinese forees in this sector, the reports said, were the 'IMst and 172nd Divisions of the Kwangsi army under General Lino Lei who led formerly at Yingshan.
Text read from the printed page and cleaned; old type leaves the occasional error.