Then Wuhan cities are hot unduly Jdisturbed at recent developments on the Lunghai Railway, it is maintained In Chinese circles "here, and the Japanese threat to Hankow is not expected to take serious shape for Jat least several months. 'The fate of Chengchow, the Chinese believe, will probably be the rst signal' for Janxiety here, but a number of major battles, they declare, may be expected before' then, 'There is much speculation in Chi-nose circles regarding Japanese intentions, but It seems most likely that they' will endeavour to synchronize their advance down the Peiping-hankow Railway with naval operations on the Yangtze, where the booms across the river still await penetration, Concern. Ie felt at the fate of the millions of nounce worth of foreign property at Hankow, which must be HJeopardized if the Japanese arrive, Chinese circles believe that It Inardiy Wkely that this strategic con tre, with its corridor to Canton, will be" relinquished without a bitter At the same time, the annual flood threat, which is due sharily, may prove an Important factor and, if it {fs of @ serious nature, is bound embarrass Japanese military opera tions throughout Hupeh, it is pointed out.
'The huge Changkung dyke, which protects the rear of Hankow from ithe Han' River overflow, it is stated, Jmay prove a destructive weapon if the Chinese s0 desire.
Text read from the printed page and cleaned; old type leaves the occasional error.