Hankow, Dec. 21.
Chinese troops attempting to launch a "winter offensive" in Central China were hurled back on all fronts before they had a chance to organize for concerted action, according to Japanese army authorities here.
They claimed that Japanese detachments had dealt crushing blows to Central Army forces, troops under Gen. Sung Cheh-yuan, and units of the former Manchurian Army which had been attempting to take up positions for a united drive.
In the Changtaikwan area on the Peiping-Hankow Railway, 30 kilometres north of Sinyang in southern Honan, and near Yuho, west of Changtaikwan, the Japanese were claimed to have routed the 6th Division of Gen. Sung's former army and two divisions under Gen, Sun Lien-chung. Survivors of these engagements were being pursued by the Japanese. Japanese vanguard units were rapidly nearing Mingkiang, important base north of Sinyang.
South of Nanchang the Japanese were closely pursuing defeated forces under Gen. Lo Cho-ying. Bodies of 110 Chinese were counted in this sector on December 17 and 18. The Japanese continued attacks on both bonks of the Fu River—Domel.
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