Hankow, Mar, 19.
The Chinese forces on the Tien-4sin-Pukow Railway front, in southern Shantung province, are now holding the line in the vicinity of Kwanchiao and Lincheng, following the Japanese entry into Tenghsien from the north-east, after a bitter battle, according to Chinese reports. In the fighting at Tenghsien one Chinese Army corps commander was seriously wounded, The Japanese troops are now subjecting Kwanchiao to very heavy artillery and. aerial bombardments, While the Chinese forces are grimly hanging on to their defence positions, the reports say.
Simultaneously, the Japanese are approaching nearer Hsuchowfu, the junction city on the Tientsin-Pukow ana Lunghai Railway, and the situation is reported to be extremely tense, Lincheng is also being subjected io attack, the reports declare, in an &ttempt to smash the Chinese right wing.
Yesterday afternoon, 12 Chinese bombing aeroplanes heavily raided Japanese troop concentrations in the Vicinity of Tenghsien, is reported from Chinese sources, in order to ryn support the Chinese defenders of the Tientsin-Pukow Railway front.
Heavy Chinese reinforcements are now taking up defence positions along the railway, between Tsaothwang and Taierhehwang.—Reuter.
Local Communique Japanese troops yesterday were within 60 kims. of Hsuchow, as Ling-hong, an important junction point on the Tsinpu line, was occupied on March 17, a spokesman for the Army last night.
The Chines" troops, aerial obser: vation showed, were fleeing in di: order across the south Shantung plains, between Lincheng and Linyi, the spokesman claimed. Meanwhile, the Japanese troops which occupied Nantungchow two days earlier, ye: terday advanced to Jukao, 64 kims. northwest of the Yangtze japanese naval bombers
Text read from the printed page and cleaned; old type leaves the occasional error.