Chungking, Mar. 19, over. 2900 Sapaness" troop. are parefpattg inthe attacks around hangy according to Chinese reports {rom Patung, the Yangtze port above Tehang, in the gorges "The pott states that fighting on the soul bank ofthe rlvrshae been fong on singe Move 6; but the Chie test hive wow tecoverad the" poo: tions held store the' Japanese on-Mount driving the invaders Backs dlaumed of tote 0 hllometren tne rte toc which they th penetrated Kiangsi Province, Mar, 22, 'The' waters of the Lao River ran red today as Japanese forces closed!
multipronged vice against Chung fking's 10th Division trapped in the valley.
'Sweeping down from nearby heights, numerous Japanese columns delivered a crushing blow against hemmed in Chinese troops who vainly sought an' avenue of escape, After turning the flank of the Chinese lines as they struck at the Jouter defences of Tsingnan, 30. kilometres north of Fengsin last night, the Japanese forces closed in upon the Chinese who were driven into the Lao River valley.
"The mountain sides were dotted with "clusters or 'Chinese dead "and dying as the Japanese infantrymen jin bayonet charges mopped up the fast Femnants of the Chinese resist-Jance in this ares 'Shanglkao, base of operations of the 19th Group' Army said to comprise the cream of Chiang Kai-shek's Central Army and under the com~ mand of General Lo Cho-ying, faced Imminent capture by" six Japanese Juntts which comprised the "mystery" column erossing the Kin River Friday morning, Mystery Column"
'The column, whose movements [were shrouded in mystery since com. mencement of operations on March 15, made an appearance on Friday to' cut off the retreat of the Chungking 74th Army as well as engaging forces of the Sist, 57th and 58th Divisions, Defended by three Chungking divi. sions,—whose is sealed, with fanottier four Japanese detachments, Jodvaneing from rugged mountain forees northeast of the town, Shang-}kao's fall was reported in late despatches to be near.
Swerning down in tow ying attacks, Japanese Army planes work-Jed in those cooperation with ground Horees, bombing defences and machine Jgunning troops in the Shangkao area, The imminent collapse of 100,006 [Chinese troops belonging to the S2nd Division of the Chungking armies on the plains west of Lake Tai was seen {today as Japanese forces were reported to be rapidly completing their encircling operation, One body of Japanese forces ad-vaneing from Changsen, in Chekiang Province, occupied Tienpingkio, southwest of Changsen yesterday. Other Japanese forces" driving southward from Thing. in Kiangsu Province, occupied Changehue!
'SUI another arm of the Japan encirclement was being carried out by Japanese units advancing southward from. Kwantsunchen, on the western shore of Lake Li, to take Liyang, thus severing the strong line Jot Chinese resistance between Liyang Jand Thing, From further west, another Japanese force was smashing its way southeastward from Lishui, thus com. pleting the Japanese movement of encircling the Chungking army in a sixly-square kilometre plain—Domei, Some fighting is also reported near vopung, th ako faving recaptured Tungshene, have crossed the Sinhsiang River and are advancing towards Yoyang, Fighting is taking place at present year Range
Text read from the printed page and cleaned; old type leaves the occasional error.