The 33d Division at Tsungyang pushed to the south along the highway. After the Japanese landing on the south bank of the Sintslang River, the Chinese withdrew to positions between the Sintsiang and Milo Rivers. The Aghting on September 24 and 25 were particularly severe and were described in Japanese broadcasts as the most severe ever witnessed in the SinowFapanese war, Part of the Srd Division landed on September 25 at Yangtien, on the south bank of the Milo River, forcing the Chinese to withdraw from the south bank. The Chinese High Com= mand ordered the Chinese forces 10 withdraw to the east. Believing the Chinese were abandoning Changsha, the Japanese advanced rapidly on the city, By September 29, the Japanese were only 20 miles from Changsha. On the Canton-Hankow Railway, the Tapanese reached Chiaotouyi, and on ihe highway they reached Shanshangchi," while one column reached Yunganshih, east of Changsha. The 33rd. Division from Tungehen reached Changshouehen via Tao and Shukang, Part of the 13rd Division occupied Pingkiang, The 106th Division from Kaoan, at the same time, moved to the west towards Wantsal and Tungku, The urd Division then turned to the east to join forees with @ Kiangsi column at Siushui, The Chinese command decided, therefore, that the first concentrated effort. was (0 prevent a junction of the Japanese 33rd and 106th Divisions, Chinese forces, on September 450, Itunched a vigorous attack on the 39rd. Division. at Taoshukang, where the Japanese left behind on the feld 8,000 dead.
General Counter-
At the same time, Chinese forces Changsha completed preparations for a general counter-offensive which took. place on October 2. when all Chinese columns east of the Canton-Hankow Railway moved westward to attack the Japanese flank.
After three days of heavy fighting, Japanese forces withdrew on October 5 40 the south bank of the filo River, and on the following day to the south bank of the Sintsang River. Since then, all Japanese forces have Yelired to the north bank of the Sintsiang River, Slushut Recaptured In the hills north of Changsha, the Japanese forees have suffered nearly 20,000 casualties, On October 5, part of the Japanese 33rd Divisions in ce-operation with the 10Gth Division, captured Siushul with the hope of maintaining the Siushul-Tungehens ling, but Chinese forces recaptured the' town "at 10 pam, last night. Japanese forces are withdrawing towards. the northeast.
The Japanese Army originally sed 180,000 troops in Hunan and Kiangsi for the drive on Changsha, Dbut now it seems that they will not bbe able to gain this objective. They claim that they never intended 10 take Changsha, General Hsueh Yo is commanding the Chinese forces in the 9th war wren, which comprises the south bank of the Yangtze, including Hupeh, 1 an and Kiangsi. Although. Chinese armies drove back the Japanese, both Sides suffered heavy casualties, the Chinese losing 20,000 men and the Japanese over 30,000, Chinese Sald Advancing on Yochow Chungking, Oct. 14.
Following the Chinese occupation yesterday morning of Yanglousze, a arategie station on the' Canton Hankow Railway, northeast of Yochow. Chinese forees are threatening the rear of the Japanese troops which patches received here today.
Chinese military circles believe that] the Japanese forees in South Hupeh may be compelled to withdraw in the direction of Puchi. While Chinese Units on the Canton-Hankow Railws are reported to be advancing against Yochow, one Chinese detachment is said to have struck east of Yochow and to have captured Taolin, to en-
Chinese troops attacking Tun cheng, the dispatches claim, have completed the encirclement of the highway. town. Another Chinese column Is stated to have gone round Tungeheng and to have reached Tashaping, north of Tungcheng, about halfway between Tungeheng and Tsungyang. The main body of the Japanese, the dispatches continue, is falling back on Pud After capturing Siushul, they cot elude, Chinese forces in northwest Kiangsi are advancing on Wunning, Fengsin and Chingan to protect the Fight flank of the Chinese who are pushing northward into Hupeh—Reuter,
Text read from the printed page and cleaned; old type leaves the occasional error.