ISLAND LANDING

Wairarapa Times-Age, 23 June 1938, Page 7

ISLAND LANDING

JAPANESE SELECT NEW POINT OF ATTACK MARINES FROM TEN SHIPS ENGAGED HEAVY FIGHTING IN PROGRESS By Telegraph—Press Association Copyright. HONG KONG, June 22. Chinese reports state that intensive fighting is in progress on Namoa Island, off Swatow, following the landing of a large force of Japanese marines from 10 warships. Swatow is on the southern coast of China, half-way between Hong Kong and Amoy. Namoa is a big island, lying well off-shore. FIRST EXTENSION MOVE UNITED STATES GUNBOAT STANDING BY HANKOW, June 22. The landing at Namoa Island after night-long fighting is the first Japanese move since the warning of the extension of hostilities to the whole eastern half of China, concerning which the Japanese Foreign Office declines to commit Japan to compensation of third Powers for destruction of life and property. (General Ugaki, Japanese Foreign Minister, warned the Powers of this decision on Sunday). The United States gunboat Asheville is standing by at Swatow, where the British destroyer Duchess is also expected from Hong Kong. Japanese again bombed Canton, chiefly the Wongsha and Shameen areas. The Chinese, taking advantage of the floods, have poured 27 fresh divisions into the Peking and Shansi areas. At least 60,000 Japanese soldiers passed through Shanghai during last week and 20 transports passed through Nanking.