HAINAN ISLAND

Wairarapa Times-Age, 11 February 1939, Page 8

HAINAN ISLAND

OCCUPIED BY JAPANESE

NAVAL £ LAND ATTACK.

OPERATION A ‘'MILITARY NECESSITY.”

By Telegraph—Press Association—Copyright. TOKIO, February 10.

The navy co-operated in the occupying of Hainan Island today. After landing the troops an immediate advance began to the interior. An official announcement of the landing describes it as a military necessity aimed at the extermination of Chinese forces on the island. It is claimed that the operations will not conflict with the Franco-Japanese agreement.

SUPPLY ROUTE CUT.

DENIAL OF TERRITORIAL AMBITIONS.

(Received This Day, 10.30 a.m.) TOKIO. February 10.

A communique states that the Chinese in Fort Siuying fired on Japanese vessels covering a landing at Hainan. The fort was silenced after a naval and aerial bombardment. The Japanese occupied the capital Kiungshan, and also Hoichow without casualty.

A spokesman denied that the occupation implies Japanese territorial ambilions and said it was only undertaken to suppress bases in North Hainan, whence pirates are sending munitions to China by what js now the chief route of supply. The Japanese are at present occupying the bases and the Chinese are retiring. PRANCE WATCHING. COMPLICATIONS THOUGHT UNLIKELY. (Received This Day, 10.30 a.m.) PARIS, February 10. The Government is watching the situation in Hainan, where France has a sphere of influence, but it is believed that the danger of an incident is not likely, as there are no French police forces in Hainan.