Hankow, Jan. 18.
The situation on the Tientsin-Pukow Railway front is reported to be tense following a simultaneous Japanese attack from both the north and south along the railway.
The main objective of the iwo Japanese armies is—Hsuchowfu, strategic city at the junction of the Tientsin-Pukow and Lunghai railways.
The northern army is pushing down southward in three columns.
The centre, driving down the railway, is engaging the Chinese troops between Chowshien, birthplace of Mencius and Lianghsiatien; the left column, pushing down the Taiwei motor-road, is attacking Taierchuan, with Tunghai as the objective; while the right column is advancing from Tsining in the direction of Shanchiu and Liuho, on the Lunghai Railway.
Meanwhile, the southern Japanese army, pushing northward along the railway from Chuchow, captured Mingkwang railway station on January 14 and is at present engaging Chinese troops in the vicinity of Linghwaikwang and Pangchiao, south of Pengpu.
All areas south of the Yellow River and north of the Yangtze are said to be experiencing a heavy snowfall.
Text read from the printed page and cleaned; old type leaves the occasional error.