SEIZURE OF PRATAS ISLANDS

Evening Post, Volume CXXIV, Issue 60, 8 September 1937, Page 11

SEIZURE OF PRATAS ISLANDS

SINGAPORE-HONG KONG ROUTE THREATENED

United Press Association—By Electric Telegraph—CopyrlgUt

LONDON, September 7. The Hong Kong correspondent of the "Daily Telegraph" states that the British authorities there are apprehensive following the seizure by the Japanese fleet of the Pratas Islands, 200 miles southeast of Hong Kong. Apparently it is Japan's intention to establish a base at the Pratas Islands from which it would be possible to cut the route between the Singapore base and Hong Kong. Britons are also anxious as the effective blockade of South China has cut off Hong Kong's huge markets. The fact that the Japanese are evacuating Hong Kong is significant. Last night 300 were evacuated by steamer, and 300 will be evacuated tomorrow.

A Hong Kong message states that Chinese officials from the Pratas Islands allege that the Japanese ranged them before machine-guns and threatened to drive knives into their skulls if they did not reveal the whereabouts of a non-existent arms cache.

The Japanese are converting the islands into a seaplane base. They have wrecked the radio station and imprisoned the lighthouse staff.

It is reported that the Japanese have seized Linting Island, west of Hong Kong.