Despite a protective barrage from Japanese artillery, however, the Chinese claim, Japanese efforts to cross the river were frustrated by Chinese troops entrenched on the north bank who sprayed the Japanese motorboats with heavy machine-gun fire.
Heavy fighting is also said to be raging in the vicinity of Yungkang village, west of Tingyuan.
'A Japanese column, supported by cavalry units and more than forty tanks, is stated to be adv: wards Hwaiyuan from Tingyuan—
Reuter, Hankow, Feb. 7
An official communique issued by the Chinese headquarters to-day admits that the Japanese have occupied the town of Hwaiyuan After having entered the town, the Japanese at once began the construction of strong defensive positions in the city proper as well as the suburbs Foreigner Contributes to
Text read from the printed page and cleaned; old type leaves the occasional error.