MAIN BATTLE FRONT

Evening Post, Volume CXXIV, Issue 60, 8 September 1937, Page 11

MAIN BATTLE FRONT

NORTH CHINA

400,000 TROOPS ENGAGED

(Received September 8, 11.30 a.m.)

SHANGHAI, September 7,

There are 150,000 Chinese troops concentrated between th- Yangtzekiahg River and Shanghai, where the Japanese have secured an ample riverside landing ground, but nearly three weeks must elapse before the launching of a major operation driving the Chinese back towards the international city. In the meantime the blockade prevents the defenders renewing their munitions and motor fuel.

Despite intense interest in the Shanghai conflict, North China remains the principal front. The total number of troops engaged is 400,000.

Count Terauchi is believed to be commanding the new Japanese efforts, I which must be directed on concentrating sufficient forces to deal with the sheer numbers of Chinese, who report marked successes in a fierce battle in the Liangsiang mountains, where they pushed back the Japanese for a mile. This is the northernmost fringe of the battle front, which extends for 200 miles from Machang to Yangkao. on the Kalgan-Tatungfu railway, and runs parallel with the Great Wall.