-In Major Battle; Morale Has Deteriorated Chungking, June 1.
reported to be drawing to a close, Chinese military authorities major military operations on the north Hupeh front here have revealed many interesting details of the fighting, which is considered the most important battle since the fall of Nanchang.
They have hitherto been most reluctant to comment on operations in north Hupeh since, they say, "the fate of the battle remained uncertain for nearly a fortnight after the Japanese launched their offensive on May 2."
Commenting on the quality of the Japanese army, they declared it showed "signs of deterioration." This, they consider the most important aspect of all since "it will affect the outcome of the Sino-Japanese hostilities."
On the other hand, they continue, the "quality end training of the new Chinese army is rapidly improving."
The Chinese military authorities declare that in the early stages of tne hostilities, particularly during the fighting in the Shanghai area, the Chinese were much impressed by the high quality of discipline and training of the Japanese troops, who fought to the last man and rarely retreated.
Text read from the printed page and cleaned; old type leaves the occasional error.