Nanking, Dee. 15.
With the assistance of army aircraft Japanese garrison forces at Wuhu defeated about 300 troops of the new Fourth Communist Army and about 100 others of the 144th Division in a clash this morning in the vieinily of Fanchang, "30 kilometres south of Wahu, according to Japanese army authorities here.
The Chinese troops had been active since the commencement of the s0- called "winter offensive" ordered by Gen. Chiang Kal-shek.
With a far smaller number of troops the Japanese put them to rout and occupied Fanchang at noon, Japanese officers said. The Chinese fed, leaving 150 killed—~Domei.
Winter Offensive" Checked Nanking, Dee. 14.
Chinese efforts to disrupt Japanese military land and water communica~ tons in Central China in preparation for a projected general "winter offend sive" " were being. systematically checked, Japanese military authorities here asserted today.
These attempts to impede Japanese rail and other trample, they said, were being made by Chinese vanguard units, jas the main Chineze forees were Leginning to move into positions for a contemplated attack.
Three factors, however, were disrupting Chinese plans," Japanese loticers said. They wore:
1. Poorly-trained troops 2 A lack of sum cient equipment end supplies, and '3. "Poor communications with the Five hundred Kwangs! troops, the' Japanese ollieers said, had become active near Anking for three days Ecginning December 4. Attacked by the Japanese forces, they quickly Med, wing 20 dead, while 20 others were prisoner "according to the Japanese authorities. communists Crushed irregulars, who also.
vity on December 4 along Tientsin-Pukow Railway, were crushed two days later. 246 dead behind, while six ken prisoner.
Japanese losses in this action were three killed, it was stated here.
On December &, the officers con d. a regiment of the 63rd Chinese a appearance near Wutsin on the inking Railway, but was pulsed. Dead lett behind by the Chinese numbered 150, "was accorded of the Sed Chinese. Me dependent Brigade on December 9 as resorted to infiltration tactics near Wutsin, also in Yangtze delta. The (Chinese. the Japanese officers said. fed in confusion leaving 89 dead. while seven were taken priscner—Domel
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