JAPANESE COMMUNIQUE

Waikato Times, Volume 124, Issue 20728, 11 February 1939, Page 7

JAPANESE COMMUNIQUE

LANDING AT HAINAN JAPANESE MOVE (United press Assn.—Elec. Tel. Copyright) LONDON, Feb. 10 It is officially announced from Tokio tbat Japanese forces have landed at Hainan Island, off the South China coast. Hainan, about the threatened invasion of which France and Britain last year expressed anxiety, since it is opposite French Indo-China, is by far the largest island in the Chinese Republic. REASONS FOR THE MOVE OCCUPATION NOT MOOTED FRANCE WATCHFUL (United Press Assn.—Elec. TeL Copyright) (Received Feb. 11, 1.45 p.m.) TOKIO, Feb. 10 A communique states that the Chinese at Fort Siuying fired on Japanese vessels, which were covering a landing at Hainan. The fort was silenced after a naval and aerial bombardment and the Japanese occupied the capital, Kiungshan, and also Hoichow without a casualty. The spokesman denied that the occupation implies Japanese territorial ambitions, but was only undertaken to suppress bases north of Hainan, whence pirates are sending munitions to ghina, which is now the chief route of supply to the army. The Japanese at present are occupying the bases and the Chinese axe retiring. PARIS, Feb. 10 The Government is watching the situation at Hainan, whence France has a sphere of influence, but It is believed that danger from the incident is not likely as there are no French police forces in Hainan.