Chungking, Mar. 7. situal non the Siang river front has suddenly become very tense, according to Chinese reports, which state that the Japanese forces, after a skirmish on Sunday night one mile south-cast of Chungtsiang, fought their way into the city, where hand-fo-hand fighting ensued.
Meanwhile, another column of the Japanese troops is said to be attacking Wangchiatsi, twenty miles' northward of Chungtsiang.
Strong Chinese forces are at present massing in the Siangyang and Fancheng area, anticipating a possible Japanese advant northward, along the Siang river valley. Thirteen Japanese aeroplanes, according 10 Chinese sources, yesterday morning subjected yang and Fancheng to very severe heml rdments—Reuter.
Driving westward across central Hupeh province, Japanese forces are threatening by their rapid advance the right Monk and rear of a concentration of 70. Chinese divisions, estimated to comprise 200,000 men, Japanese military spokesman In Shanghai claimed last night, The selaure of Antu, pivotal point. fon the Han River, the spokesman asserted, had precipitated signs marked unrest among the Chinese forees stationed in the Chinese First and Fifth War Zones.
"The presence of these Chinese forces in the aren south of the Lung hal Railway and west of the Peiping-Hankow line, he added, has stituted " serious obstacle to ce-operation between the Japanes expeditionary forces to central and north China.
Following the seizure of Anlu, the spokesman continued, the Japanese forces were pushing towards Suihsien forcing back the Chinese towards the north-west, Meantime, In northern Kiangsu, in a concerted drive of the Japanese Army and the Navy, an "annihilating blow was dealt seven Chinese divi-slons, the spokesman continued. A vast pinger movement from the north and the south closed upon these Chinese forees which were driven to the banks of Tasung Lake where they were dealt a crushing defeat, accord~ Ing to the spokesman.
"These successes, the spokesman declared, had heightened the Japan ese morale,
Text read from the printed page and cleaned; old type leaves the occasional error.