Chungking, Feb, 20 Reasons for alleged large-sale. withdrawal of Japanese troops from the Yangtze valley, which puzzled Chinese elreles here, have, they claim, been established.
After concentrating troops in North China, particularly in Hopel, Shanst and Shantung Provinces, the Japanese, it 1s Fated. here, are launching 'a campaign for clearing up North China of Chinese guerillas Severe fighting Is reported in central Hopei against Chinese forces under General Lu Chung-lin, Governor of Hopei, id also Generals Chang Ying-wu and Sun Liang-chens According to reports claimed here to be reliable, the number Japanese "troops in the Xangize valley "is" less" than 200,000 strong. Many cities along. the Yangtze between Nanking and. Hankow are ated fo have been abandoned by the Japanes¢, so that Huang-mei, in east Hupeh, and Hukuo, in Riangsi, below Kiukiang, are row claimed to be once more tinder Chinese" control. The entire area in north-cast Hupeh, east of the "Peiping-Hankow Railway, is also reported to have been. evacuated. by the addition to other arms and ai tiunition. The Chinese left five dead Fifteen Chinese were killed at Ta the Yangtze, in the Kintan sector est of Nanking, at $ am, Friday: when" Japanese. troops raided an irregular hideous. One guerilla was inken prisoner. Large quantities of documents and other paraphernalia
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