Opposing Forees Locked in Struggle Near Hweiwei Guerilla Bands Active Behind the Lines Hankow, Feb. 15. 'HINESE and Japanese troops are locked in desperate fighting north of Hweiwei, on the Peiping-Hankow Railway, as the battle for possession of the Lunghai Railway approaches a climax.
The Chinese forces are making a gallant attempt to hold their so-called "national defen line". in this sector despite continual pounding by Japanese artillery and bombing by Japanese planes. Chinese troops are being rushed up the railway to reinforce the Chinese line.
Gunfire was audible at the vital railway junction of Sinsiang to-day as Japanese troops engaged in a flanking movement from the east tried to push along the 93-mile long Taokow-Chinghua Railway, which intersects the Peiping-Hankow line at Sinsiang.
Fighting raged to-day at Fengehiu, near the north bank of the Yellow Heavy Casualties River, which is being attacked by the Japanese column which swept through Peiping, Feb. 15. the southern {ip of Hopel and en-Heavy casualties are being suffered Fengchiu is only elghby both the Japanese and Chinese in north of Kaifeng, capital the severe fighting now In progress of Honan. fon the Peiping-Hankow Railway front, according to reports received Wo ang Reeaptured here.
Desoite Japanese denials, Chinese The Japanese claim to have killed aispatehes Insist that Wenshang, nearly 10,000 Chinese troops in the thirty miles north of Tsining, has been past five days, during which they are recaptured after bitter street fighting Said to have advanced forty miles "The Chinese are making yet an from their base in North Honan, other attempt to reoccupy Tsining, Changteh, to points. south of Chihsien. and for this purpose have put two The Japanese, however, are redivisions Into the feld. Chinese plain-ported to have been faced hitherto clothesman are stated to have entered only by the worst Chinese troops, Tsining on the night of February 13, those belonging to General Sung But to have been forced to retire the Cheh-yuan, who was ousted from next day—Reuter, Peiping at the beginning of the present war, and the former Man-Communists Raid Muping churian troops commanded by Gen-
About 400 Chinese Communists ani Chotoo, Feb, 18. eral Wan Fu-lin,
Ieracularg raided the walled town Another Offensive Muping, twenty miles east of Chefoo.
The Japanese are preparing for an-fon Saturday evening, and kidnapped other offensive in Shans! province. fa few of the citizens.
The Japanese steamroller drive south.
Ald was subsequently requested ward from North Honan is now from the Japanese naval forees in threatening Sinsiang, at the Junction Chefoo and a large detachment w of the Peiping-Hankow and the sent out, which spent Sunday and Monday trying to. exterminate the Simultaneously. a body of 3,000 raiders. Aerapinnes- were also used. troops, forming the spearhead of the find it wor behaved that this morning Japanese thrust from South Hopel, is {he process of "manoing up" had endeavouring to reach the Yellow pretty well completed.
River via Changyuan, which is only "Three additional Japanes warships thirty miles north-east of Kaifeng, arrived here yesterday a the city capital of Honan.
quiet at present—Reuter.
On. the Tientsin-Pukow Railway front, the Japanese forces are trying Desperate Chines Birt to eross the Kwel River. under cover of artillery barrages, with a view to tu a der porte ofer to check the capturing Kuchen, on the north bank, atnane'Snans. drive southward and continuing their drive towards ra'sieth Hoon and Sot How Heuchowfu—Reuler.
Boker" Raneor have aeetrowed 35 tua cninne orate on he. Pel Chinese Attack Tsining monte, Banyan manent Hankow, Feb, 16. Apu of change, the Japan bose 'Two regiments of Chinese treens pcraions In North Foner: have succeeded in scaling the walls ithe Chinese have slip opened 9 and entering the beleaguered city of coat' bank swamping the country: cining, near Yenchow, where they are making attempts to dislodge the Se hameer the Topanete garrison, according to official Jnnanese advance, guerilla activities despatches received here to-day. hen inst. Jananoxe communications Desperate street Mehting is stated Have, been Intensited. During the to be in. progress, and three more net tow alive there hae been fehtine Chinese regiments! are reported to pi side. Paotinet, while freemlars have made preparations to enter the Imive appeared near Chuchow, forty miles from Peiping, Tsining has been besieged for some The Jnnaneso advancing down the time by. two divisions under the Painine-Hantenw Railway have pained command of Generals Sun Tun several snectnenlar suecessng during heuau and Tsao Fu-lin, who are stated to have launched a vigorous attack tha nat few days, thus intensitying the Threat to the Lunchal Railway. on the town early yesterday morning Tt thay are not checked. the Lunghai Meanwhile, itis reported that, a division of Chinese troops commande? Paliway is In Aanaer of being cut at Kaifeng. capital of Honan.—Reuter. by General Chan Shu-tane entered Wenshang, thirty miles north of Tsin~ Active Near Paotingfu Ang, but has been compelled to retire after three days of street Aghting. Poloing. Feb. 19.
The Japanese advance up the Stone detachments of Chinese southern "section of the Tientsin-Irveculars, cmilnped with artillery, Pukow Railway is stated in Chinese have attempted to interrupt the Japan. despatches to have been held up as cere lines of communications several result of the activities of Chinese hundred kilometres north of the units operating west of the railway front line by 9 surprise attack on the vicinity of Pengpu and Ming Paotinefir on the Peiping-Hankow Tt thie altemot had been successful, considerable dimMeulties would ave arisen for the Jananese engaged In heavy fighting about 860 kilometres farther south, owing to lack of munitions and supplies.
"According ta Japanese reports. the Chinese irremlars advanced as far Manchene which is about fifteen kilometres from Padtingtu, heavy fight-having been in progress all yes~ terday. "According to Japanese splirees. stron Chinese forces finally. rolreated to the mountains pursued by the Japanese.
"A. foreigner, who today returned to Peiping from a motor car tour to Taiyuan, declared that during his drive yesterday on the road running from "Shichiachuang to Paotingfi parallel to the railway he had discovered no trace of Chinese irreculars, The road was absolutely safe Dut he had heard heavy artillery fire further west, which confirms the Tapanese reports of figling near Man "The Japanese forces on the Peiping-Hankow Railway are continuing thei attack on the Chinese "iron belt north of Weihwel, but so far without success.
Text read from the printed page and cleaned; old type leaves the occasional error.