Hankow, May 8.
With Chinese defences crumbling under the smashing weight of Japanese assaults, Japanese forces broke through Chinese lines west of the Tapieh Mountains in northern Hupeh with several detachments knocking at the gates of Liukiaho, 40 kilometres north of Suihsien by nightfall yesterday, according to reports reaching here, Front line reports said that the Chinese were fleeing to the north and west as a result of a relentless night and day drive by the Japanese, Simultaneously, 11 Japanese units drove through Chinese defences at Taochiaoliu, 12 kilometres west of Liukiaho, delivering a severe blow to Chungking's 123rd Division under General Chen Sung-chin, Remainder of the Chungking troops were being pursued westward by the Japanese who kept up the chase re-gardies of the growing darkness, until the Chinese retreat became a disorderly rout.
Other Japanese detachments pushed in another direction as far as Lutzuwan, four kilometres west of Liukiaho, and were carrying out a mopping' up drive against enemy remnants, it was further reported, Domei,
Text read from the printed page and cleaned; old type leaves the occasional error.