IWO Japanese columns were yesterday reported to be rapidly nearing Kaifeng, close on the heels of the retreating Chinese divisions.
Kaifeng's most serious threat, the reports indicated, was from the south-east, where a'Japanese force was enveloping Chenliu, fifteen miles from the menaced capital of Honan.
Another Japanese column was reported to be pushing west from the Lanfeng area, where for more than a week it has been repeatedly attacked by Gen. Chiang Kai-shek's picked troops.
These forces, whose strength was put at 200,000 men, were said to be in full retreat towards Kaifeng, with 20,000 dead bodies making the path of their withdrawal.
Chinese units which had been attacking Japanese troops entrenched in the villages of Chenliukow, Sanyichai and Chunhsingtsi, north-west of Lanfeng, were reported to have borne "enormous losses".
Chinese troops massed in the area south-east of Kaifeng were said to be subjected to incessant bombardment by Japanese Army aircraft.
Troop concentrations, the reports said, were bombed at Chenliu, Sungmen kwan, and Hsinglungtsi, all of which lie close to or on the Kihsien-
Kaifeng Highway.
Text read from the printed page and cleaned; old type leaves the occasional error.