Hankow, Feb. 2.
The long-expected Japanese offend sive along the southern section of the Tientsin-Pukow Railway is in full swing following the occupation of the Mingkwan sector, according to Chinese reports received here to-day.
Suppprted by artillery and aeroplanes, which are subjecting the Chinese positions to a severe battering, the Japanese forces aressaid to be vigorously pushing northward.
The Chinese have already destroyed the railway bridge across the Hwai River in an effort to check the advance. At the same time heavy Chinese reinforcements are being rushed from Hsuchowfu to support the defences at Pengpu.
Commercial telegraph and telephone services from Hankow to Pengpu have been suspended as a result of the Japanese advance, which is also causing south-bound trains from Hsuchowfu to go only as far as Nansuchow, 55 miles north of Pengpu.
Station conducted investigations in the case. The Church recently issued rice to beggars and poor refugees, but this was stopped recently. The police could noe tell last night whether this had any connection with the grenade-throwing. No threaten-g letter of whatever nature was received by the Church prior to the incident,
Text read from the printed page and cleaned; old type leaves the occasional error.