AMOY ISLAND

Waikato Times, Volume 122, Issue 20497, 13 May 1938, Page 7

AMOY ISLAND

CAPTURE BY JAPANESE FOREIGNERS REPORTED BAFE I CHINA WAITS NEXT MOVE United Press Assn.—Klee. lei. Copyright LONDON, May 12 It Is reliably reported from Shanghai that, the Japanese have captured the whole of the Island of Amoy, including the treaty port, where fighting raged all day. The Chinese forces have retreated to the mainland. All foreigners are reported to be safe. All South China is waiting tensely for Japan’s next move. The main concern in Hongkong, says the Daily Telegraph's correspondent, there, is the security of Canton, although all preparations to meet a Japanese attack have long been completed. Three, possible motives are suggested for the attack on Amoy—strategic, economic and psychological, says the Tokio correspondent of the Daily Telegraph. If the motive is strategic, it is believed it will foreshadow operations in the Canton area; if economic, it is the prosperous Customs revenue which attracts, and the occupation of Swatow and Foochow may be expected to follow shortly; if psychological, it is to cheer up and encourage Ihe Japanese public in view of the failure to record a spectacular victory on the Hsuchow front. Possibly all three motives played a part in the Navy’s action. PRACTICALLY A DEADLOCK MEDIATION SUGGESTED BRITAIN PREPARED TO ACT (OfTlcial Wireless) RUGBY, May li Mr Neville Chamberlain, the Prime Minister, was also asked, whether, seeing that the war in China has largely reached a deadlock, he would consider offering British mediation or inviting the United States to join in mediation to restore peace Mr Chamberlain said the British Government, would be glad to offer its services, either alone or in conjunction with other Powers, to bring about an equitable peace between China and Japan. He did, not however, consider any useful purpose would be served by offering mediation until both sides signified their willingness to accept it. JAPANESE ATROCITIES RAID ON MISSION STATION FRENCH SUBJECT MURDERED United Press Assn.—Eiec. TeJ. Copyright LONDON, May li The News Chronicle says that the Japanese, in the course of a fourth raid on the Changlo mission at Siiunlung murdered a French missionary, M. Frederick Fourre, three Chinese nuns, two novices, and a Chinese Christian, also a servant. CHINESE CLAIMS OVER 600 PLANES DESTROYED SUCCESSFUL COUNTER-ATTACK (By Telegraph.—Press Association) WELLINGTON, Friday The Chinese' Consul has received the following Hankow cablegram: *• There was severe fighting west of Shantung and south of the Hwai River, the enemy's intention to cut the Lunghal railway being definitely revealed. West of Shantung the enemy followed the' Kingshiang-Ytal highway in their attack but during the last two days we killed over a thousand of the enemy. “ North of the Hwai River, we strongly counter-attacked Menchang and the' vicinity and killed 500 Japanese and destroyed two tanks. Our planes bombed and sunk two Japanese warships at the mouth of the Pearl River and destroyed arms depots and ammunition dumps on various small Islands in the' possession of the Japanese. “ The Chinese military spokesman stated that since the beginning of the Slno-Japanese conflict enemy planes destroyed by us total 625.”