LANDING AT FOOCHOW

Wairarapa Times-Age, 28 June 1939, Page 5

LANDING AT FOOCHOW

EXTENSION OF JAPANESE OCCUPATION Mastery of Whole Chinese Coast Aimed At BRITAIN REFUSES TO WITHDRAW SHIPS AND NATIONALS POSITION BEING CLOSELY WATCHED By Telegraph.—Press Association— Copyright. LONDON, .June 27. The Exchange Telegraph’s Hong Kong correspondent says that the Japanese landed in the treaty port ol boochow, this morning. The Japanese naval authorities in Shanghai announced I hat operations are also commencing today against, the Wenchow treaty port. They have warned foreign shipping to quit both ports. . The British Consul-General in Shanghai today rejected the Japanese Note demanding the withdrawal of foreign shipping and nationals from Wenchow and Foochow by noon, on June 29 (local time). The Note says that the harbours will be blocked by means of booms. Both are in zones of hostilities. The loss ol these ports will place almost the entire Chinese coast in the hands of the Japanese, seriously affecting Chinese exports. H.M.S. Duchess is standing by in the vicinity of Foochow. It is reported from Hong Kong that Japanese troops have occupied the Swatow-Chapehow railway. The Foreign Secretary, Air Butler, informed the House of Commons yesterday that the Japanese completed their occupation of Swatow on Thursday. As far as could bo ascertained, all British subjects whre safe. The situation of British shipping was still obscure, but the British naval authorities were doing their utmost, despite local difficulties, to secure unrestricted movements of British ships. It was still too early to form an opinion about the possible impact of these operations on British trade with Hong Kong, but the- position was being closely watched. Authoritative Japanese sources state that preliminary talks for a settlement of the Tientsin trouble are under way, states a message from Tokio.