The situation at Lanfeng, on the JLunghai Railway east of Kaifeng, is very obscure in consequence of con-Aicting Japanese and Chinese claims, While the Japanese assert that they Ihave captured the important town, the Chinese military authorities see Jvanother Taierchwang victory in the lanfeng area, with General Dothara's T4th Division trapped."
'According to. a Chinese military spokesman today, General Dotbara's division. totalling' 20,000 men, crossed the Yellow River in the vicinity of ]Wuyang. occupied Tsaochowfu, and Jerossed the Lunghai Railway and Teached a point north-west of Chihsien in an attempt to encircle Kaifeng.
Tater, he added, the Japanese troops turned northward, and re-Jcrossed the Lunghai Railway between Kaifeng and Lanfeng in an attempt ito reach the Yellow River in order to receive supplies from, and form Jo junction with, the Japanese forces Jat Kuankou, on the north bank of the Yellow River.
"At dawn on May 23 the Chinese Jrorces, the spokesmen declared, launched a general offensive against JGeneral Doihara's division from all The division as well as General IDoihara himself are now said to be Wherever one could see inside the town, and in the neighbourhood around it, the bayonets of Japanese nards gleamed in the sunshine Sround great shell-holes and ruins of what once were buildings.
The "Rising Sun" flag was to be seen waving proudly from all import-fant positions. Lorrles laden with food supplies rumbled endlessly along the roads. below.
"The East and North stations of Heuchow were still burning, while fatten abandoned Chinese trains—. part of the enormous Japanese haul Jot war booty—rested on the sidings.
"Dying Like Ants Peering down from the aeroplane, tone could see men fighting. swarming and dying ko so many ants, along the dusty roads and the green fields. Japenese tanks and cavalry pursued the Chinese as they fled, scattering, the countryside with clouds of dust.
At one point Japanese troops could be seen fording a muddy stream, holding their rifles above their heads
water.
they waded shoulder-deep in the Tu another area a number of whifts of smoke were to be seen rising towards the eky. As one drew nearer, these revealed themselves to be fires raging in dozens of villages and towns—so many that one had not surrounded in villages in the vicinity Jot Lowangchal and Chuhsinchi, be-beween Kaifeng and Lanfeng north of the Lunghai Rallwa 'After several days' severe dighting for the possession of Tashushan Hill, six miles west of Hofei, the Chine: forces withdrew on the' afternoon of hMtay 28, according to Chinese reports, present, they are stated to be holding positions west of the hill Router.
Text read from the printed page and cleaned; old type leaves the occasional error.