Shanghai, Jan. 5.
Thor retreat cut off by the Japan-Jose capture of the Wuhan cities, Chinese troops in northern Hupeh province, were surrendering to Japanese forces in the Tapleh mountain range Jarea in increasing numbers, a Japan-Jose Army spokesman claimed" in Shanghai yesterday evening.
'Up to the end of December, he said, 12,000 Chinese troops had surrendered Jat Hwangan, 3,000 at Lotion, and 800 at Macheng. All these units, consist-Ing of Chinese regulars, surrendered with their equipment and ammunition, the spokesman' stated.
Japanese army aircraft, recon nolting over Chinese villages in the [Tapieh range area at a low altitude, Jwere not fired upon by Chinese troop Jconcentrations sighted. in those settlements, according to the spokesman.
This, he declared, was indicative of {the low morale of the Chinese forces.
Text read from the printed page and cleaned; old type leaves the occasional error.