In preparation for the present offensive, the "Japanese forces in western Chekiahg and eastern Anhui, according to information received by the Chinese military headquarters here, have during the past two days voluntarily evacuated at least ten cities which they had previously occupied, including Hsuanchen, Kwang-teh, Szean, Lishui and Changhsin. The withdrawn troops, in the opinion of Chinese military circles here, have all been transferred to the Tientsin-
Pukow Railway front, After clearing up the Chinese troops along the Tientsin-Pukow Railway, Chinese sources declare, the Japanese will attempt to drive westward along the Lunghai Railway. In this operation the main "army, it is believed, will be supported by two other columns; one moving northward from Hofei and the other pushing southward along the Peipin-Hankow Railway towards Chengchow.
AN the evacuated cities in Chekiang and Anhwei have, in the meantime, been reoccupied by Chinese troops.
The Japanese troops who captured Tsining are now engaging the Chinese in the vicinity of Kinghsiang ud Chuyai, to the west of Tsining.
On the Wuhu front, where the Chinese forces launched a vigorous Gflensive yesterday, severe fighting is said to be taking place in the vicinity of Mapuchiao and Paimashan, west of Wuhu.—Reuter,
Text read from the printed page and cleaned; old type leaves the occasional error.