Vanguard units of a Japanese detachment yesterday morning entered Kaoan, base of the Chinese forces, in north-western Kiangsi, cording to a reconnaissance report by fan Army' aeroplane, Following the completion of mopping-up operations within the city, the detachment is in hot pursuit of the retreating Chinese troops.
The entry into Kaoan followed the detachment having ousted the Chinese main forees. from two mountains, ight kilometres northeast of Kaoan, that formed the bulwark for its defence. This movement began at 10 am. on Monday, The Japanese forces by noon yesterday "had entrapped four or five Chinese divisions in. their enveloping ines extending about 25 kin. in clr~ cum ference in the area north of Kaoan, and were expected to have rushed them by yesterday morning.
match for series of dextrous strokes of the Japanese encircling forces, Gen, Lo Cho-ying, who had suffered a disastrous defeat at Nanchang last March, lost again Kuoan, Leaving to their fate the several divisions under his command On the other hand, Japanese detachments which had ade a detour to the west of Kaoan on Mon-say and thus cut off the Chinese, retreat at dawn yesterday morning got to a point only a few kilometres west of Kaoan, and in concert with detachments from the north, con: summated their encircling lines in the areas north of Kaoan, An outstanding characteristic of the Japanese operations in northwestern Kiangst is that they are not aiming at a mere capture of Chinese bases, but at an annihilation of Chinese troops. In accordance with this strategical plan, the main Japanese forees, following an all-night drive fon Monday night, formed several columns carly "yesterday morning, and strafed and shelled the Chinese troops retreating from Kacan,
Text read from the printed page and cleaned; old type leaves the occasional error.