Hankow, Jan. 8.
Reports received Here to-day indicate a stiffening of - Chinese resistance both in the of Shansi and in the fig! t of {e—Tientsin-Pukow Shantung.
Ta Shansi, the situation in the various sectors of the front is at resent quiet but on the Chinese side it is expected that the Japanese who have recently received great reinforeémen's will soon resume Yarge-scale operations., In Chinese official circles the view is held, however, that owing to the extensive qmeasiires taken to strengthen the Chinese defences the Chinese forces will be able to face any new Japanese attack in southern Shansi.
The guerilla warfare which is being conducted with great activity in northern Shansi is retarding the Japanese advance considerably. Almost the entire male population in northern Shansi is armed and cam oh guerilla warfare in the very mountainous region there.
Mu the fighting in Shantung west of ihe Tientsin-Pukow railway line, ihe Chinese appear to be preparing for a specially stubborn defence along a front running parallel to the Imperial Canal which links up a chain of lakes about 250 kilometres long forming an excellent natural defence basis. The Chinese troops here also seem to have re-reinforcements. In the territory north of this line the Japanese
Text read from the printed page and cleaned; old type leaves the occasional error.