Referring to Japanese military movements in west Shansi, the spokesman declared the purpose of the Japanese drive in that area was apparently to clean up Chinese forces. operating in the Lullang Mountains, west Shansi, with Chihsen as their base, When the Japanese converged from the north, east and south on towns in the area,'including Taling, Shihhsien, Pubsien and Hslanling, the Chinese forces, avoiding frontal engagements, withdrew into the mountains, abandoning large towns, which' were quickly taken by the Japanese, said the spokesman, "The Chinese, he further claimed, were harassing Japanese communica ons, preventing. supplies and reinforcements from being brought up.
By "stripping the countryside of all foodstuffs and supplies," the Chinese would eventually force the Japanese to withdraw from west Shansi, the spokesman declared. As soon as the [Japanese colunins withdrew eastward towards their base, he added, Chinese mobile units would, mountains, along thi and footpaths.
Tension In S, Shanst While the situation in west Shans is said to have eased, reports received here. from south Sharsi indicate tenseness there.
'Since November 1, according to lChineso dispatches, Japanese artillery tsnits on the north bank of the Yellow River have been heavily shelling, [Tungkwan, a strategic Lunghai Rail-vay town on the south bank' of the Japanese batteries, it is said, fred Jover 400° shells ai Tungkwan November 3, white on the following day, over B40 shelly were fired by Japanese guns on the town.
This artillery bombardment, directed lat the south bank of the Yellow River,
Reuter.
said to have continued on November
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