Hsuchow, May 8.
In coordination with the Japanese forces operating in southern Shantung, the Japanese armies on {he Southern Section of the Tientsin-Pukow Railway front, the Huaina Railway front and in northern Kiangsu have launched simultaneous attacks on various Chinese position with a view {o expediting the drive on Hsuchoy, strategic junction of the Tientsin-Pukow and Lung-Hai Railways in northern Kiangsu.
After crossing to the northern bank of the Huai River, in northern Anhwei, two Japanese regiments pierced' the Chinese defence lines along the Fei River and are now facing the Chinese south of the Kwei River. The Japanese are moving northwards three separa' in columns.
A strong Japanese force is heading north-westwards along the Hwai-an-Mengcheng Highway with Mengcheng as the immediate active. Two Japanese columns are advancing northwards alo! the Tientsin-Pukow Railway and the Pengpu-Suhsien Highway with tsien, 27 miles north of Pengpu, as the converging point.
Severe fighting occurred at Hwanglunetsi, on the southern section of On Thurs: the unit crossed the fei River, the face of stubborn Chinese opposition. The co'ümn's the Hwaiyuan-Mengcheng Highway, yesterday between the Chinese local defence force and the advancing present position was given as somewhere west of Sinkiao, on the southern Tsinpu line.
Another Japanese unit was. rneanwhile, reported to be attacking Mengcheng, an important town lying on a highway about 80 kims. north west of Pengpu. The troops which on Saturday occupied Fowning, about 100 kims. south of the lunghai Railway were si by the spokesman to be preparing to advance north-ard, towards Haichow, the terminus of the Lunghai line.
The column which re-occupied Kohsien, on April 24 was said by the spokesman to be at Chaohsien; preparing to advance ti important military wards Hofei, hace in Japanese.
After a desperate encoun-tet, the Japanese advance v halted,—Kuo Min.
Text read from the printed page and cleaned; old type leaves the occasional error.