Taking the initiative against Chinese troops massed for a projected "winter offensive" in three Central Chin" pro~ vinees, Japanese forces today were engaged in sanguinary encounters in tareas north west, south and south West of Hankow. summary of field dispatches reaching here showed:
Japanese staff officers placed Chinese losses in these various encoulers, After reaching Minkiang, a Jopanese column is said to have headed straight for the highway to the Indo-China border south of Lungchow.
'The opinion is expressed here that the Japanese desperate drive towards Lungchow was aimed partly to reach Chengnankwan, important' terminus of the railway to Hanoi, and partly draw Chinese forces' away from the attack on Nanning. 3
In a statement, the Chinese Military authorities say that after the "crushing defeat at Yashuitang, the Japanese are. retreating eastward, with the Chinese in hot pursuit."
Text read from the printed page and cleaned; old type leaves the occasional error.