Japanese troops in the Woosung sector, it was learned. started a severe onslaught on the Chinese positions on Friday afternoon, with the assistance of a squadron of bombing planes. The Chinese made a temporary retreat.
But as night fell, the communique said, Chinese troops launched a counter-offensive by way of Taochiatsai between Liuchiatsai and Hsinmuchiao, and by midnight, it was stated, the Chinese had regained the ground lost in the late afternoon.
The tide once more changed shortly afterwards, the communique admitted. A large Japanese force, composed of two full battalions, sprang a surprise attack on the Chinese right flank, in the vicinity of Changchiatsun, The onslaught was so severe, the communique said, that the Chinese had to evacuate Changchiatsun and Wuchiatsun, and were making a gallant stand at Miaotsun while awaiting reinforcements.
Meantime, at the Lotien sector, the communique stated, the Japanese troops, apparently having been heavily reinforced. were planning a frontal offensive on the Chinese positions there.
The objective, according to the communique, aimed no doubt at seeking a junction between Japanese troops at the Lotien and Yanghang sectors.
Text read from the printed page and cleaned; old type leaves the occasional error.