'The Arst of the sled boats one: ployed for this purpose erossed the river in 'Afteen minutes, followed by others, 'The Japanese' boats uve stated to have plied between the northern and southern bank of the 00-metre-wide river "like shuttlococks,"
'An' exchange of severe rifle and machine-gun fire occurred at frst, but soon dice down with the swift advance of the Japanese troop:
With the fail" of Tsinan, all the capitals of the five provinces of Novth china are now "in Japanese The retvent of the Chinese forces Tsinglao has now been out off, while the northern half of the Tientsin-Pukow "Railway is now entirely secured by the Japanese:
"The Japanese troops. operating. along the Pientsin-Pukow Railway from the Yangtze are now stated to be advancing northward in the direction of Hsuchowfu, at the june~ tion of the "Tanghal "and Tyinpw "Extremely Signifleant the political point of view.' says "Asahi" in an article. to-ly. "the capture of Tsinan is extremely" significant." Control of Shantuing, it s3¥%, gives the Japan Army: hegemony over' the. five pro~ vinees of North China "It is considered "most probabl the "Asahi" continues, "that the fiwenee of the Provisional. Govern: tment of the Republic of China will, extended. to Shaptung."
Crossing Ue Yellow fiver In the face of the, enemy had been con considered by military experts to be Seteumely dien the Journal bro: feveds, bul actually' it proved an easy taste to' the Japanese Army.
"As u result of the capture of Tsinan." the "Asahi" adds, "Japan grasps at the threat of the Shantung Peninsula, cutting off the retreat of the Shaniung Army, important. Cot tal Army forces ahd other mixed Taian Concentration the of General Hon Fuchu, Governor of Shantung, took up Positions on Palmashan," or White Worse Mountain, according to offciat Chinese dispatches received here today.
The main body Is concentrating at Taian, in the immediate vicinity of which stands Taishan, China's sacred mountain, which ig often mentioned in the. writings of Confucius.
Meanwhile the Japenese forees advancing eastward towards Tsingtao along the Tsinan-Tsingtao Rail-Way ae pushing steadily closer to their objective. Fighting 1s at present taking place at Chingchow, 35 miles west of Weihsien, and gunfire was faintly audible at Weihsien aay.
General Vu Hsueh-churly who have been garrisoning Taingise, are reported to be moving westward support, the Chinese forces Weihsien. "These troops belonged formerly to General" Chang Hsueh-
Text read from the printed page and cleaned; old type leaves the occasional error.