Hankow May 3.
An advance of seven miles. is glalmed by the Chinese following the launching of a general offensive in south Shantung this morning.
"Delivering a smashing attack through the centre of the Japanese Tine situated north of Pihsien and east of Tolerchwang." a telephone message from the front states, "the Chinese occupied Taliangpi and Siaoliangpl, "two villages west of Szehucheng."
"The Japanese forces," the message adds, "are retreating northward."
Today's general offensive heralds! the commencement of the decisive stage of the Shantung battle, accord ing to the opinion of: competent observers here, who had long expected the Chinese forces, which now total 206,000 men. to launch crushing at tock as soon as they found signs of the Japanese offensive becoming spent, Following the arrival of 2,000 Japan-se reinforcements; a Chinese military communique declares, the Japanese in north-east Taierchwang are launching attacks on Chinese positions. in the vicinity of "Hsinlungtsi and Ying chwang, "but the Chinese lines: hitherto remain intact:
The Chinese Command is now. watching closely the movements of Japanese troops im west Shantuns, where Japanese reinforcements are being rushed to Tsining and Nanyengchen in preparation for a drive southward towards Kinghslang and, eventually; Kweiteh. on the Lunshiai Railway. west of Hsuchowfu.
'A Chinese column, according to Chinese reports, has advanced to a point 40 kilometres north of Tens fislen towards Ninyang. which city situated north-west of Yenchow!, {809,000 Chinese Troops Nearly 800,000 Chinese troops are massed in South Shantung for baltic with the Japanese, according to an estimate made by' a foreign observer arriving here today from the front. The observer reported a very heavy eastward movement of troops alons the "Lunghai "Railway, saving counted an average of 30 troops trains a day.
'Passenger traffic, bio added, was! subject to serious delays because of these troop movements. the Hsuchow-chow. run, which normally fakes' 10 hours, now occupying three days. He was deeply, impressed. the observer said, by the "healthy, cheerful and youinfat appearance' of the With the fighting in south Shantung producing no decisive result. the centre of hostilities in that rovinee may be shifted to west Shan-ung, In the belief of Chinese eircles here. The Japanese, they point ut, are pouring reinforcements into west Shantung.
Japanese engineers are reported {o bbe constructing a motor-road linking Lincheng, on the Tientsin-Pukow Fitway, with the east shore of Lake Chinese quarters here, intend to try to crass the lake for a drive towards. the Lunghai Railway west of Hsu-
Large bodies of Japanese reinforcements are reported to be pushing southward from Felchen, about 22 miles west of the Tientsin-Pukow Rollway town of Talon. The vanguards of the Japanese are slated to] have clashed with Chinese troops at a point south of Feichen.
Crack Kwangsi divisions under the command of General Li Ping-hsien are moving Into west Shantung to} cope with the situation.
Troops are also being moved in attempt to check the advance of a Japanese column moving northward towards the Lunghai Railway from 'Chinese and' Japanese troops in this region are reported to be facing each other between Shanking and Yenchen, at a point roughly 90 miles from the Lunghai Railway.
Tancheng Threatened 'Tancheng, in south-east Shantuns. Jabout 20 miles from the Lunghi Railway, has been completely enol led by' Chinese troops and Is expected to be the recaptured short recording {0 the latest military patches from the front, Chinese forces on the south side are reported to have reached vil. Joges only one kilometre south of Tancheng; on the west Chinese troops are attacking Matoucheng, possession of which means complete command of the Tancheng area; and fon the east a Chinese flying column. latter moving around the Jupen the city from the north-east Successes in the Wuhu sector are! also claimed by the Chinese, Ao cording to a Chinese military com munique, Chinese troops are con verging on Hsuanchen, an important railway and highway town near Wuhu, In three columns. from" the south," west and south-west, The column from the south-west said to have reached a point only 400 metres from the city, that from the west Is claimed to be only two kilometres distant, while the detach ment from the south is reported to have captured. Sunchaipu after very) severe street Aghting.
Text read from the printed page and cleaned; old type leaves the occasional error.