STRATEGIC VALUE

Wanganui Chronicle, Volume 83, Issue 36, 13 February 1939, Page 7

STRATEGIC VALUE

ISLAND OF HAINAN BASE ON ROUTE OF SUPPLY JAPANESE LANDING [By Telegraph—Press Association—Copyright] Received Feb. 11, 5.5 p.m. TOKIO, Feb. 10. A communique states that n Chinese fort at Siuying which fired on Japanese vessels which were covering the landing*of troops at Hainan Island was silenced after a naval and aerial bombardment. The Japanese occupied the capital, Kiungchow, and also Hoichow, without a casualty. The spokesman denied that tne occupation implies that the Japanese have territorial ambitions and says that it was undertaken only to suppress bases in North Hainan from which pirates had been supplying munitions to China and wh’.ch now form the chief route of supply for the army. The Japanese are at present occupying the bases and the Chinese are retiring. FRANCE WATCHING AN INCIDENT UNLIKELY PARIS, Feb. 10. The Government is watching the situation at Hainan Island, where France has a sphere of influence, but it is believed that the danger of an incident is unlikely as there are no French police forces on the island. PIRATES ON YANGTZE BRITISH SHIP FIRED ON. (Independent Cable Service.) Received Feb. 11. 5.5 p.m. SHANGHAI, Feb. 10. Ten Chinese passengers were drowned and live wounded when pirates fired on the British steamer Alexandra in the Yangtze estuary. There was a panic among the 600 passengers aboard as several fell wounded, and many leaped overboard. AMERICAN CONDOLENCES .MR. CORDELL HULL’S MESSAGE. Received Feb. 11, 5.5 p.m. WASHINGTON, Feb. 10. Mr. Cordell Hull has sent condolences to Cardinal Pacelli. Two Americans, Cardinals Mundelein and Dogherty, are going to Rome to participate in the election of the new Pope. A third, Cardinal O’Connell, due to advanced age and ill-health, is not going.