The Chinese "April offensive" in northern Hupeh province west of the southern section of the Peiping-Hankow Railway was giving place to 8 Chinese "May defensive" as a result of a large scale offensive launched by Japanese forces May 1, according to Held dispatches from Hankow and Yingshan last night.
Japanese forces already have thrown a semi-circular "steel ring" about 2 kilometres in elreumference round areas north-west of Yingshan, the messages said.
The Japanese Kato Detachment on Monday afternoon occupied Sunchi hi Hil, 40 kilometres west of Ying-shan, after a clash in which the Chinese lost 24 killed. Two Japanese were killed in the engagement.
Another Japanese detachment took Liangshinmiao, 40. kilometres north~ west of Yingshan, The dispatches said the Chinese forces consisting, mostly of Central Army troops were Being pressed back into a mountain= ous region north-west of Vingshar Japanese forces already. have crossed the river about 52 kilometres west of Yingshan and are continulag their advance. according to the field
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