The Chinese are building up their system of defence, particularly in the region of Nanchang, capital of Kiangsi province, and also nearer towards Hankow along the frontier of Kiangsi and Hupeh provinces.
That at present the Japanese are not pushing their offensive more strongly is explained in military circles by the fact that-it is the custom of the Japanese after every advance first to strengthen their lines of communication and to assure unhampered approach for reinforcements. Chinese military circles point out that the Japanese might next attempt to advance, not eastwards, as expected but southwards from the Yangtze along the Wuhu-Kinghua highway in order to conquer the province of Anhwei. There, just as in the north of Kiangsi, strong masses of Chinese troops have been assembled in order to be able easily to attack the Japanese from the rear should the Japanese attempt to march further on Hankow. It is estimated that 20 Chinese divisions have been assembled east of Nanchang.—Trans-Ocean.
Text read from the printed page and cleaned; old type leaves the occasional error.