Chungking, May 17.
The recapture of Tsaoyang, in north Hupeh, late yesterday was officially reported to Chungking by the Chinese field headquarters east of the Han river this afternoon. The first report: said the Japanese were retreating in confusion towards Suihsien, to the south-east.
The greatest significance is attached to the reported fall of Tsaoyang, in which 20,000 Japanese were said to have been penned up yesterday, as it is claimed to mark the final stage of the north Hupeh campaign, which Chinese circles claim was the most ambitious Japanese effort since the taking of Wuhan.
With their withdrawal from Tsao-yang, the Japanese are now said to have been driven back to the original jumping-off places from which th offensive was undertaken at the beginning of the month.—Reuter.
Text read from the printed page and cleaned; old type leaves the occasional error.