With Matung in Japanese hands and the boom there penetrated, the Chinese are hastily erecting further defences in an effort to halt the Japanese advance on Kiukiang.
Besides closing the Yangtze at Hukow to traffic, the Chinese authorities are understood to be constructing a (boom at Hukow and another at Kiukiang. At the same time, - heavy reinforcements are pouring into the Hukow area.
Following the fall of Matung, the Japanese on the north bank of the Yangtze captured Wankiang, opposite Matung.
The Chinese and Japanese forces are now said to be facing each other at Liangchuancheng and Chuancheng, north-west of Wankiang.
Both Pengtseh and Hukow, which are on the south bank below Kiu-Kiang, are being subjected to severe daily bombings.
Fighting is said to be going on at present at Liangliangmiao, east of Pengtseh.
The Matung boom was first crossed on the afternoon of June 29 by smaller Japanese boats it was revealed today.—Reuter.
Text read from the printed page and cleaned; old type leaves the occasional error.