The Japanese officially admit using "considerable" forces." which—are reliably estimated at about 120,000, oF eight divisions. of which two ate Fepoited to be from south Manchuria, The Chinese strength is said to be Hitherto the Japanese have been proclaiming that their objective limited to driving Chungking trons, from North China, but it the operation is successful they will cross. the Yellow River and reopen the whole Peiping-Henkow line to Hankow.
In this connection it Is significant that other Japanese forces are pushing northwards from. Hupeh to Honan, Some Chungking and other comments point out that these operations are only local and cannot affect the safely of Chungking or the general wet situation in China.—Reuter.
Text read from the printed page and cleaned; old type leaves the occasional error.