Taken; Japanese Ship Passes Boom at Matung Nanking, July 2. cause positions running along the Tapieh mountain range on the Anhwei-Hupeh border, forming one of the first lines of defence for Hankow, are on the verge of collapse, according to dispatches from the front received here today.
The eastern section of the Chinese "defence line, including Shihchishan, Lungtanshan and Wuchiapeilou, was completely captured on Friday by Japanese columns advancing steadily westward from Tsienshan, the dispatches claimed.
Meanwhile, other messages from field commanders stated today. that Chinese troops cut channels along the bank of the Yangtze River near Fuhsingehen, 30 kilometres south-west of Wangkiang midway between Anking and Kiukiang, in an effort to check the Japanese drive from Tsienshan.
The latest defeats were said to be causing "confusion" in the Chinese Guerillas Active Dispatches from the northern front] stated that strong pressure is being] Drought to bear on Chinese forces in the northern sector as Japanese units merching from Chengysnekwan and Showhsieh in northwestern Anhwei continued their: thrusts toward the! southern border of Honan.
"According to reports brought by Japanese aerial scouts who flew aver the Yangtze about 10 o'clock' this morning, streams of muddy water are pouring through the ditches made in the Yangize bank and flowing at A speed of five knots into the Inkes around Wangkiang, Lakes Rising Steadily Poh, Hwang and Wuchang Laker were reported to be rising steadily.
Wangkiang was said to have been flooded as the Tsionshu and Huang-shut Rivers overflowed.
Chinese forces concentrated "in Anhwei are commanded by Gen. Hou The Japanese Okayama detachment opened an attack on Huanshan, Shihehishan and Lungtanshan on June 20 ith strong) support from artillery vunils.
Ca-ordinating their movements with forces attacking on the front, separate units made detours and struck the Chinese positions from the rear Fieree Aghting raged during the night fof June 20 and the following morning the Rising Sun flag flew above the Chinese positions near Wuchiapeltow, Chinese forees active in this area include the main body of the 199th Division, Defeated units were reported fleeing into the mountains in the north-wost—Domel.
Text read from the printed page and cleaned; old type leaves the occasional error.