Hankow, Mar. 31.
Emerging' from hiding in the country side as Japanese forces reached the Kan' river bank near Nanchang on Sunday evening, owners of about 30 Junks offered to ferry the Japat ese forces across the river, feld dspatches received here today revealed.
"This proffer of necessary Uoats, the reports said, occurred both at' Teengkia, about 15 "kilometres south Nanchang, and at Shenmingehieh. near Tsongkia, This altitude of the junk owners was attributed by Jupanese officers fo the resentment aroused among the Chinese farmers and others by the exactions of irregular preying on the country: Cesses sot qucrilles were have been particularly widespread in the Chinese Ninth War Zone in which Nanchang is Included.
Because of this assistance, the Ald messages said, the Japanese detachment that crossed the Kan river Tsongkia was able to Intereept Chinese troops on the east bank of the river retreating to the south from Nanchang, inflicting them heavy losses. The Chinese, thus unexpectedly attacked, left behind 1.300 dead, while 700 others wore taken prisoner, the dispatches said. Japanese losses during this engagement were given as one killed and. six wounded.
Two antitank guns, 20 ight machine-guns, 250 rifles, 20,000 rounds of ammunition and 20 horses were also taken by the Japanese.
Meantime, In north-western Kiangsi, Japanese forces continued their advance westward following the eapture of Wuning, pivotal defence position on the Yungsiu-Slusul high-which extends westward "to
Text read from the printed page and cleaned; old type leaves the occasional error.