The main force of the Chinese troops In North China is now con~ centrated west of the Imperial Canal where they are strongly entrenched. Large bodies of Chinese forces are also occupying positions near Kweiteh, halfway between Kaifeng and Hsuchow and the present seat of the Shantung government. General Sung Cheh-yuan's army is at present on the march from southern Hopel and northern Honan eastwards to the Tientsin-Pukow railway in order to reinforce that front.
Chang Tso-pin, governor of Anhwei province, has arrived at Hsuchow Where be has described the position In northern Anhwei as being by no means as hopeless as surmised in other quarters. The Japanese have not captured Hofei_and have had thir progress stemmed as the re~ sult of stubborn Chinese resistance long the railway running north from Nanking.
Thoro Is a Iull in operations on the Peiping-Hankow railway line as the Japanese are apparently trying to bring off @ decisive encounter in the Tientsin-Pukow line cree frst, position on the Hangshow front is reported here as unchanged.
Reuter.
Japanese Nearing Tsingtao Tientsin, Jan. 10.
Supaneie troops were to-day rapid~ nearing Tsingtao, driving Gen. Vu 'Hsuen-chung's troops sea-ward, along the Kiaotsi' Railway, and southwards. in' the direction of Hsuchow and Tyingchow, on "important railway, station about midway between Tsinan Tuingtno, was occupied by the Nagano detachment on January 8.
Chinese troops, numbering about two divisions, were reported in military dispatches received here to be retreating in disorder—Domei, Tuining Station Recaplured Hankow, Jan. 10.
'The Japanese threat to the Lunghat Railway tas been eased for the time being with Ube recapture of the xailway-station at Tsining, 80 miles north-east of Kweiteh, from the Japanese, according to' otficiat dispatches received tore to-day.
The railway-station ly stated to have been retaken as the result of a counter-attack launched on Jan, 8.
Chinese quarters there admit that tie situation was. critical the day, afore, because the Japanese soamed to be' in a position to occupy the whole of Tsining, regarded as the Key to Kweiteh, which is situated roughly midway between Hsuchowsu ud Kaifeng, It Kweiteh were to be ferlously menaced by the Japanese, the Chinese troops in the Hsuchowfu aren Would be forced to withdraw to Meanwhile, further Chinese reine forcements are being rushed to Tsining to strengthen the Chinese resistance there—Reuter.
Defence of Lunghai Line Hankow, Jun, 10.
It is learnt here that the Chinese Supreme Command has decided to throw all its available military xesources Into the defence of the Lung-hat railway which is known to be the present objective of the Japanese: advance in North China and whose strategical importance is fully realized by both sides.
Fresh troops "have aliepdy been rushed to positions on te eastern section of the Lunghai line between Kaifeng and Halchaw where any Japanese attempt to dislodge them is sure to lead to severe fighting. Orders have also been given to the Chinese forees to hold Hsuchow, the important junction of the Lunghai oilway with the Tientsin-Pukow oilway line, at all costs.
"Apparently the Chinese forces have succeeded in holding their post-
Tsinan, Jan, 11.
Encountering tittle resistance, the Nagano detachment tate last night occupied Weihsien, an important railway station 113 fulles from Tsingtao. After a brief halt in the captured town, the unit continued its: rapid advance westward, towards the Shantung port.
'The force is making rapid progress, having taken 'Tsingchow on January'
and Changlo the following day.
Little resistance is being offered by the Chinese troops, the main body' of General Vu Hsueh-chung's Army having retreated southward, towards /Hsuchow and Haichow.
Hsuchow was subjected to a severe aerial bombing yesterday by two squadrons of Army planes. The filers said they destroyed railway tracks, thirteen trains, station, bulld-Ings and Chinese defence works.
Another unit of the Army air force had, meanwhile, bombed Chinese positions in Tsining, to facilitate the southward advance of Japanese troops—Domei,
Text read from the printed page and cleaned; old type leaves the occasional error.