Canton and Hankow Japan's advance on Canton has progressed with
astonishing rapidity after the landing last week at Bias Bay. The main force is now held up at Tsencheng, 5o miles east of Canton, but a surprise offensive further south has carried the Japanese as far as Sheklung, only 35 miles from Canton, and enabled them to cut the Canton-Hankow railway. Evacuation of civilians from Canton is reported to have reduced the normal population of 2,000,000 to 250,000 ; it is feared that when the city is attacked the Chinese may try and break into the foreign concessions. On the Yangtze also the Japanese are advancing. After being held up for several weeks they have at length been able to capture Teian and Yangsin, which opens up the way for an offensive on the Canton- Hankow railway. Thus, if the attack is successful, Japan will control both ends of the railway and cut Chiang Kai- shek off from Canton, which is of the utmost importance to him both as a source of supplies and as the traditional centre of the Chinese nationalist and revolutionary move- ment. The last week has greatly increased Japan's chances of obtaining a striking success before the winter, and of stabilising her position. In North China severe irregular fighting still continues. * * * *
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