Hankow, Apr. 28.
Complete confidence In' the ability: of the Chinese forces to repulse the present big Japanese drive in south Shantung was expressed by n Chinese rillitary spokesman In an interview with Reuter today. The outcome of the Shantung battle, he added, should be known within five days, "The Japanese troops In South Shantung," the spokesman asserted, are completely exhausted. Recent unsuccessful assaults show that their attacking strength is practically spent. This fs due to the fact that the Japanese commenced thelt offensive before they had had an opportunity to rest after a tiresome journey from other fronts, Because of the destruction of railways and highways by Chinese guerillas, it Is estimated that about two-thirds of the Japanese reinforcements In south Shantung marched from Tsinanfu to their designated positions, and that vonly one-third travelled by train, On, the other hand, the spokesman said, "the Chinese troops which cipated in the battle of Taierchwang had been transferred to the rear for rest and reorganization. The Chinese Command was using only fresh troops for the present battle, Encirclement actless the Talerchowang engagement." tne spokesman continued, "tne Chinese fomployed encirclement tactics, Using the wings fo close in gradually on the Japanese. forces surrounded. in the Taierchwang area. The Chinese suc-coded in the campaign beau —Taierchwang is a small limited making encirclement possible B-The destruction of "Japanese communications inthe. rear "made farther esivals of esforcments and Supplies impossible.
Jeuthe Chinese forces outnumbered the Japanese, making it possible for the Chinese to concentrate. powerful Units at strategic points and, thereby, making "it very dien "for the Tapaness to break through the Chine tie cordon.
Text read from the printed page and cleaned; old type leaves the occasional error.