Shanghai, Mar. 15.
ELENTLESSLY pursuing Chinese troops retreating northwards along the upper Han River in central Hupeh, Japanese van~ guards yesterday were pressing in the direction of Siangyang, the main Chinese base in the area, a Japanese military spokesman said last night, The main Japanese force, the spokesman declared, was now between Anlu and Liusuikou, 27 kilometres to the north, The latler town, he claimed was captured at 3 p.m. on March 13.
According to Japanese aerial obser~ vation, the spokesman continued, Chinese forces in the hilly region West of the Han River were feverishly. digging in, whilie columns of power-{ul reinforcements were being rushed eastward from Tehang.
Japanese army aircraft, the spokes man. added, had subjected Chinese troops retreating westward across the Han River, as well as those attempt ing to rally at a point south of Siangyang, to an intensive bombard-mont,
Text read from the printed page and cleaned; old type leaves the occasional error.