Autacking from Siaoshan, the only foothold obtained by the' Japanese last year as a result of a determined attack launched from Hangchow, Japanese forces recently made a thrust southward trying to drive into the heart of cast Chekiang, the stronghold of Chinese forces central China and pivot of inland transportation of Shanghai goods destined for Chungking-controlled interior. White the Chekiang coast blockade is already very effective, the intensified operations in the Inferior nim primarily at cutting Chungkine's supply read, the reports Indicate.
Echoing the Burma highway, bombing, several columns of Japanese soldiers tried {o converge on several important east Chekiang districts by diferent routes. While one of the detachments "attacked and " later occupied Chuch! from " Sineshan, another one crossed the Fu Chuo River and took Shinsden and Lingan, Chinese reports admit. Chuchi was Tost on October 17 but two days later the Chinese retook it. Tingan has also been retaken, it is claimed.
'While Japanese' troops are thus: attacking on land, their sea forces have kept up a continuous bombard ment of the Chekiang coastal districts. The reports, however, do not give details "of damage resulting from these bombardments. On. Sunday morning, a Japanese plane circled over Fengchiao and dropped four bombs, all of which fell" on vacant pieces of ground, it is stated. There was no air alarm'in Ningpo.
Text read from the printed page and cleaned; old type leaves the occasional error.