Show CHINESE REPORTED CANTON i HONG HONG KONG Nov 17 7 Un CUP UP Un Unconfirmed confirmed Chinese reports said to today today today to- to day that Chinese columns were closing closing closing clos clos- ing in on Canton af after er shattering the outer Japanese defenses Chinese sources said their troops were preparing to storm the battered battered battered bat bat- commercial center of southern southern southern south south- ern China which the Japanese captured captured cap cap- almost without resistance SHANGHAI Nov 17 A CUP UP A Japanese spokesman admitted today that the Chinese had launched a counteroffensive in n South China He lIe said the Japanese troops had hat been drawn back at several points but that they would renew the offensive shortly |