The Japanese threat to China's north-west provinces has caused the Government to appoint General Ma Pu-fang as Chairman of the Chinghai Provinctal Government, in succession to General Ma Ling.
The new Governor is a younger and more aggressive man than General Ma Ling, who is considered too old to take command of troops.
Meanwhile, severe fighting is continuing in southern Shansi.
In accordance with orders from the High Chinese Command, the Chinese troops in southern Shansi have withdrawn to the east and west sides of the Tungpu Railway following the success of the Japanese in breaking through the Chinese defences at Lingshih.
Although the Japanese have penetrated deeper into southern Shansi by occupying the principal cities on the Tungpu Railway, Chinese mili-y circles point out, large bodies of Chinese forces are still operating in the hills on both sides of the railway and are continuing to harass the Japanese rear in the vicinity of Linfeng.
Chinese reports state that a large detachment of Chinese troops is at Present concentrated in the vicinity of Fushan southeast of Linfeng, where fighting is in progress.
It will take months, in the opinion of the Chinese military authorities, before the Japanese can consolidate their gains in southern Shansi. Even if the Japanese succeed in occupying all the principal cities in the province, they add, fighting between the Chinese and Japanese forces will not be over—Reuter.
Text read from the printed page and cleaned; old type leaves the occasional error.